Check out the possibilities of online holiday shopping scams

According to the National Retail Federation, around 164 million Americans are considering shopping during the Thanksgiving Day weekend. And for the first time, some shoppers say that they plan to shop online instead at big box retailers such as Walmart and Target.

As consumers search for holiday deals and shift their purchasing through online mode, it’s also the prime time for scammers to hack data and money. Here we have shared some important tips for protecting yourself online during this holiday shopping season.

Online holiday shopping frauds to watch out for

1. Take extra cautious when shopping on a mobile device

Consumers should be especially be careful when shopping through a mobile browser. Experts have told that the scammers often make fake websites with URL”s which look similar to those official retailers in an effort to trick number of users.

Mobile browser have much shorter address filed and thus consumers may not see the full URL on their phone. Hence, it can be more difficult to trace a scam.

2. Be alert about bogus apps

Some fake apps have malware which can steal your personal information or even lock you device until you agree to pay a ransom. While some other bogus applications prompt users to login using their Gmail or Facebook accounts that can also reveal your sensitive data.

Please download apps from official app stores like Google, and Apple, but kindly note that sometimes apps on official stores can be potentially dangerous.

3. Don't click on questionable email links

Consumers should avoid clicking on links which are present as an unsolicited email, even if deal looks attractive. Fraud emails usually look similar to those sent by famous retailers, your family member or a bank.

4. Always use secure network connections for online shopping

Before going for online shopping make sure that the website you are visiting must have a valid ‘HTTPS’ connection along with a lock symbol, not ‘HTTP’.

Consumers should never give their credit card information unless they are in a secure online shopping site.

5. Practice for good security hygiene

Consumers should always use difficult to guess passwords for their accounts and the password should be unique for every account.

Make use of two factor authentication and password managers that would help keep track of different logins.