By Forum Staff
Though Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday are officially in the rear-view mirror, the City Police Department this week published “a few tips that will help keep you safe and secure on the internet and while you shop in stores” over the remaining weeks of the 2016 holiday season.
Cyber shoppers:
- Connect with care: Never provide your banking or credit card information over an unsecured public WiFi network.
- Be cautious online: Do not click on suspicious links or download items from unknown sources.
- Pay attention to website URLs: Shop only at credible, reputable websites, and look for URLs that start with “https” which are more secure than “http” sites.
- Set strong passwords: Make sure your account and WiFi passwords are complex and unique to each account.
- Don’t believe everything you see: Hackers and thieves often use “can’t miss” deals to lure unsuspecting customers and collect credit card or financial information.
- Keep a record of your order: Retain all documentation from the order in case there is an issue with the purchase and use credit cards that limit your liability for fraudulent charges.
- Check your statements: Check your purchase records against your credit card and bank statements. If there are differences, report them immediately to your bank and police when needed.
Traditional brick-and-mortar establishment shoppers:
- Do not carry large amounts of cash.
- Never carry your wallet in your rear pants pocket.
- When carrying a purse, firmly grasp the top portion of it while shopping.
- Always be aware of staged distractions: Pickpockets may drop something in front of you or cause a loud commotion near you. Once you are distracted, another pickpocket will then steal your valuables.
Courtesy of NYPD
