‘Tis the season to be jolly, but not without a warning. With one of the busiest and most well-loved holidays around the corner, unfortunately, it’s a time when criminals come out of the woodwork and steal from the jolly Christmas shoppers. Crowded malls, stressed shoppers and occupied minds make some shoppers easy targets.
From fistfights to identity theft, shopping during the holidays brings a few safety risks. Consider these holiday shopping safety tips. Keep your purse close to your body or your wallet in an inside coat pocket or front pants pocket. If you’re carrying a purse, keep it in front of you instead of behind. If you’re keeping it in a cart, make sure the purse is close to you, zipped or buttoned closed, and attached to the cart itself. You can use a carabiner or the buckle straps found on most carts.
Walk with your head high. Nowadays, everyone’s heads are down staring at their phones. Whatever the reason for the head being down, lift it up. This will help you have a better awareness of your surroundings and keep you safer.
Don’t shop alone, especially at night. Not only is shopping with someone safer, but it makes the adventure much more enjoyable. If you must shop alone, try your best to do so during the day, or park in a well-lit area close to the store’s entrance.
Don’t take your money out until asked and don’t flash a lot of cash. Use only one credit card. Data breaches have occurred in the past at major retailers and credit card companies. Should something similar occur, you can reduce the risk of having multiple cards compromised.
Save your receipts and monitor your credit card activity by reviewing your bill immediately or periodically checking the online app.
If your debit or credit card has gone missing, notify your bank before doing any more shopping. Given that it’s the holiday season, chances are it’s lost in your purse or jacket pocket. But, if it’s a worst-case scenario, you want to minimize the damage as much as possible, if not completely.
Car safety is also important not only during the holidays but every time you go shopping. With so many people out and about, you may encounter aggressive drivers on the road. Don’t add to the problem. Remember to drive defensively and don’t allow road rage to rise. Parking lots can be dangerous too, so be on guard.
Be patient when looking for a parking space. Don’t speed up to catch that empty, or soon-to-be empty spot, and be cautious of other drivers who do this.
Don’t leave bags or other items in view. Put them in the trunk. Be aware of your surroundings when walking to your vehicle and make a mental note of where you parked your car. Also, get your car keys out and ready before you leave the store.
Online shopping safety during the holidays is extremely important. Stick to retailers you know and preferably, have shopped with before.
Research a business you haven’t purchased from before by checking customer reviews or complaints with the Better Business Bureau.
Never commit to a deal that seems too good to be true.
Avoid using a debit card since dispute reimbursements may be less than credit cards.
Refrain from using public Wi-Fi to make purchases, or use a VPN to avoid hackers intercepting your information.
Check a webpage’s security by looking for the lock icon in the URL field, and making sure the URL starts with “https,” not just “http.” The “s” means the site is safer and more secure.
These are just a few tips to make your holiday safe and sound during the most wonderful time of the year!