Protect Yourself from Online Shopping Scams this Holiday Season

Shoppers gather their liquid caffeine, a snack or two and those warm fuzzy slippers to prep for what is about to come. Grabbing all their goodies, they hunker down in front of the glowing screen, ready and waiting to pull the trigger on the absolute best finds of 2019. 
 
However, as Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals start swirling around the interwebs, so do the scammers, and there are a few things you should know. 

According to experts, fake websites, fake products, fake apps and fake e-mails are ready and waiting for shoppers this holiday season. 
 
One reason scams are so abundant is because these scammers are really good at churning out fake websites with authentic-looking emails to direct you right in to their pockets. 
 
Here are a few tips to help you avoid email and shopping scams this year:

1. Make sure links are accurate. Look for a secure padlock icon to the left of the web address before purchasing. You can also verify links by reviewing the main domain name. 
2. Do not use an unsecured Wi-Fi network. If you are shopping away from home, ensure you device has all the latest software updates.
3. Never click through on email links. Go directly to the retailers site via your browser.
4. Never open an attachment from a retailer. Retailers will most likely not hide deals in attachments. This is a common place that scammers will hide malware.
5. Deep, deep, deep discounts that seem too good to be true, usually are. This can be a sign of a counterfeit product. Double-check the seller via your own Google searches, Better Business Bureau searches and user-driven and independent review sites like Yelp to make sure they are reputable.

 
Shoppers can avoid being scammed by being diligent and thorough before making any purchases and by ensuring your operating software is updated and security software is installed this holiday season.

To ensure your device is up-to-date with the proper anti-virus, malware and spyware software or if you may have fallen victim to a cyber crime, you can contact Your Hometown Techs to clean out your PC, recover any lost data, reset your machine and ensure your operating system is up to date.