Additional Internet Safety Tips

#1 -  Visit/Shop at Familiar / Well-Known Sites and Vet New Ones 

Look for the company name via the Better Business Bureau, https://www.bbb.org.

• View the site's contact page to see where the organization is located and if they offer a phone number.

• Do they have a social media presence?

• Check out the shipping and return/refund details. TIP: If it shows more than 30 days to ship, most likely it will be an overseas order.

#2- Look for the Website Padlock and SSL 

In the website address bar see if there is a padlock image before the URL to verify that they have SSL (secure sockets layer) encryption? 

Look at the URL. Does it start with "HTTPS" not just "HTTP"? Having the https means they've taken extra protection for your password, contact details or credit card info. 

#3- Be Careful When Using Public Wi-Fi 

When you're in a public place that offers free Wi-Fi, it's tempting to quickly connect. But before you do, make sure you know the type of

 Wi-fi ... whether or not your connection will be secure.

 There are basically two kinds of public Wi-Fi: Secured and Unsecured.

• Unsecured public Wi-Fi is like the type you may use in a local coffee shop or free wifi in an airport. You can connect directly to the internet without entering any type of password.

• A secured network (as found in a library or a hotel) requires you to register for an account, agree to legal terms, or type in a password before connecting to the network.

It's best to be extra safe and limit online shopping to when you're using a trusted Internet connection. If you really need to make a purchase when away from home or the office, you may be able to use your phone as a hotspot to connect.

#4-  Create a Strong Password for All Accounts 

Don't skimp on the passwords that you use on any account. Make them strong so that hackers can't use your account for their own purchases.   

• Don't use the same passwords for everything.

• Include a mix of numbers, letters, and special characters.

• Passwords now should be 16 characters long.

• Use a password manager to keep track of all of your impenetrable data.

#5- Don't Click on Links in Emails 

Spammers can spoof email addresses ... thus creating messages that look like something you receive from reputable retailers. Links can lead to dummy stores or infect your computer or phone with malware or viruses. If you're in doubt if an email is legitimate:

• Instead of clicking on a link from the email, go directly to the website address of the organization.

• Google some of the words in the message and you may find that it is part of a scam.

• Call the place of business directly to ask questions. For example, an email posing as your bank may request sensitive info. Don't click on any links, but talk to someone directly.

#6-  Protect Your Payments – Use A Credit (Not Debit) Card 

A debit card gives scammers instant access to your liquid cash. When you pay with a credit card:

• Most companies offer some form of zero-fraud liability. This means that if someone gets a hold of your card you won't be held liable for the charges.

• Credit cards often offer additional consumer protection with warranties and insurance coverage.

• Using a prepaid card will also protect access to your cash as they are loaded with a specific amount of funds and offer a level of anonymity and protection for personally identifiable information.

#7- Track Your Order to be Aware of When it will be Delivered 

#8-   Check Your Credit Card Statements Every Month 

Even though you may not get paper statements in the mail anymore, look at your account online every month and review each line item transaction to make sure all charges were made by you. Some banks only go back three months to credit fraudulent changes, so review regularly.