As you prepare your shopping list for those Black Friday deals, if you are going to shop online, don’t forget to be smart about how you shop. Online predators and criminals love this time of year, so be aware! Here are a few things to consider before you click “Submit Order”:
Don’t Give Personal Information:
Much like getting a phone call from a telemarketer who asks for personal information like your date of birth, social, etc, shopping online is the same. If the site is requesting any personal information that is unrelated to your purchase, then think twice before buying from them. For most holiday online shopping, purchases don’t require such information.
Steer Clear of Unfamiliar Sites:
While we are all about supporting the little guys, now is not exactly the time to be shopping on sites you’ve never heard of. Because there is such a spike in online crimes this time of year, perhaps stick to sites that you’ve used before.
Guard Yourself:
There are a couple of ways you can implement extra layers of protection for yourself. First step is to make sure you have up-to-date anti-virus software on your computer. If you’re shopping from your desktop or laptop, this is a must.
Secondly, before you start your shopping, give us a call to see if you have Identity Theft Protection on your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy. In case something does happen while you wrap up your purchases, you’ll have that safeguard to fall back on. It is extremely inexpensive to add this to your policy if you haven’t already.
As always, we love hearing from you! Please give us a call at 717-755-2335 or email us at staff@aadvantageinsurance.com with any of your questions, comments or concerns.
