We are almost halfway through December and Christmas is just around the corner. At this point, you must already be scrambling to finish everything that has to be accomplished before Christmas Day arrives. On top of that list is probably your gift buying efforts.
Burstmedia.com conducted a survey that revealed 11.7% of their respondents plan to wait until the last minute to complete their holiday shopping. If you haven’t completed your shopping yet, then you might be a part of this statistic.
While you must be burdened with the stress of last minute shoppers, you need to keep in mind that one of your goals should also be to keep from piling up debt while holiday shopping. That is one of the pitfalls of not shopping early. You do not really have the time to shop around for a better price. The chances of you saving on your holiday spending is more remote.
In most cases, people who are trying to complete their shopping list quickly is bound to go online. In fact, the same survey from Burst Media states that 91.7% of their respondents are planning to do some online shopping – either to do their research and/or buy products. 25.1% of the respondents of their survey reveals that they like shopping online because of the convenience of avoiding the crowds and the physical effort of going to and from the store.
But while this is convenient, you still need to look for online shopping tips that will maximize the benefits of this platform.
7 tips for online shoppers during the holidays
When you are shopping via the Internet, you will most likely use a card to pay for your purchases. You need to be aware of smart spending tips to ensure that you can utilize this tool effectively. The thing about this options is, you need to input your card number and details so the online merchant’s website can register your payment. Otherwise, the whole purchase will not be complete.
Scammers will surely be lurking around the Internet to prey on unsuspecting holiday shoppers. Based on an article published on the Internet Retailer website, the forecast reveals a 15.1% increase in online shopping. In the months of November and December, the total sales to be generated from this platform will reach up to $61.8 billion – a higher amount than the 2012 sales of $53.7 billion. This is a figure that will attract a lot of identity thieves.
Online shopping tips are needed more than ever to protect consumers from getting scammed out of their hard earned money. If this is your chosen way of buying gifts for your loved ones, you need to be very careful when you make your purchase. The fact that you have to input your card account number should make you extra vigilant.
Here are some tips that should help keep your money safe as you purchase your gifts online.
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Make sure you know the website that you will purchase products from. Although some lesser known websites will offer low prices to attract consumers to buy from them, you need to know that some scammers can rob from you this way. They create sites that are meant to just get your card account details and then they never deliver the products that you ordered. Shop only in websites that you trust and know. When in the credit card page begins with “https://” this is a secure page.
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Be careful when clicking on links. This is the time when email marketing efforts are amped up. Not all of them are malicious emails but you need to be careful about the links that you will see. To be safe, just type the URL on the Internet browser and do not rely on merely clicking on the link to get you to the site.
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Do your online shopping in a secure location. Try not to shop in a public place. This is one of the most prominent online shopping tips that you will receive. Renting a public computer to make your purchase puts you in danger of having your keystrokes captured. That gives thieves access to the details you typed in. This is still true when you use your private laptop but make your purchase through an unsecured wifi connection.
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Keep your antivirus protection updated. This will protect your computer your hackers who will try to capture your keystrokes or lead you to malicious websites.
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Opt to use a credit card instead of a debit card. In this case, it is alright to prefer to use credit cards rather than debit because you can block payments when you think that you bought from an illegitimate website. Fraudulent charges from credit cards are easier to back track and recover.
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When in doubt, check with the Better Business Bureau. When you are unsure of a particular website, check with the bbb.org. This is the website of the Better Business Bureau that reflects any complaints against a particular company.
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Keep a copy of your credit card receipts. Print them and keep them in file. In case you have problems with the product you purchased, you have the document needed to file a complaint. You should also make sure that the amount stated on your credit card statement is correct.
Online or personal shopping: be cautious of identity theft
While online shopping is very convenient, it makes you more vulnerable to identity theft. Statisticbrain.com reveals that the average number of identity thefts in the US is more thatn 11.5 million annually. 64.1% involves the misuse of credit cards. Identity theft currently cost consumers up to $21 billion as of June 2013. That is a huge amount of money that can really cripple the average consumer.
More than online shopping tips, you should also look into tips that will help protect yourself from identity theft. Here are some tips that should help boost the security of your credit cards.
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Store your credit cards in a secure location. Your wallet or purse is a great place to keep your cards from being physically stolen. You are always careful of your wallet so this is where you might want to keep your cards.
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Do not carry the credit cards that you have no plans of using. If you do not plan on using your cards for purchases, it is best to leave them at home. And if you are going on a shopping errand, bring only the card that you plan on using. Take it out only when you are paying for your purchases and keep it immediately after.
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Shred any document or card that holds your card number. These include statements and old credit cards. Some people go through lengths to get these information from you – even as far as going through your trash. If possible, throw the shredded pieces and cards in separate trash bins at different times. This will keep thieves from putting them back together.
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Check credit card receipts before you sign them. Ideally, you want encircle the amount so the people handling the receipt can no longer alter it. Double check everything before signing your name on any document to make sure you are being charged correctly.
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Be very careful about sharing your information – especially your credit card data. This is true for both online, phone or personal transactions.
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Report any theft as soon as you found out that it happened. When you have your credit card physically stolen from you, call the credit card company to report it. They will raise an alert to all merchants to get extra identification from anyone using your credit card. This will help trace the thief who got it.
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Check your billing statements and credit report as often as you can. Your monthly credit card statements should be scrutinized carefully for any unauthorized charges. You also get a free report from the three credit bureaus that collate all your info from various creditors and lending institutions. Make sure you always get a copy of your credit report to check if there are any credit card accounts that have been opened without your knowledge.
In the end, these identity theft protection and online shopping tips will only be as effective as your ability to implement them. No one can protect your money better than yourself. Always be on guard and be vigilant. You should also do some research every now and then. Thieves come up with new ways to steal from consumers so it is best to always listen to the news.