Five ways to avoid identify theft
Shopping online may be handy and much easier than heading out to the shops but it also comes along with its own risks, including identity theft.
It's important to think about the dangers involved when spending your hard-earned cash, so here are five ways to be safe while shopping online:
1. Avoid public wifi networks
Be cautious about making purchases from a public computer or wifi network in a library, airport or coffee shop.
2. Look for 'https'
The 's' after 'http' is a good indicator that the site is probably a safe place to enter credit or debit card information. You should look for 'https' on every site you visit, especially on those pages where you plan on entering your personal financial information.
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3. Don't store credit card information
If a site asks you if you want to save your personal information and credit card details, don't do it, even if you're on a personal computer or phone. If you do store information, make sure to log out of accounts and ensure the settings on your mobile don't automatically connect to a nearby wifi.
4. Don't email credit card information
Email is not a secure way to send you personal payment details over the internet and you should be suspicious of any company that requests you to email them your credit card information.
5. Go with a credit card
Credit cards will offer you more protection than your debit card. Use credit cards for your online transactions, especially when you're using a site that you're not familiar with.
Be sure to bear all of this advice in mind when making online purchases!
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