Five Tips to Protect Yourself from Cybercriminals this Holiday Season

The holiday season is upon us, which is a great time to reconnect with family, friends, and count life’s many blessings.

But for cybercriminals, the holiday season is an excellent opportunity to steal your personal information. This is because consumers are spending more time shopping online where they are entering information like credit card numbers, addresses, names, emails, and passwords into websites without thinking about the risks.

It’s more important than ever to be aware of cybercrimes and what you can do to protect yourself from being a victim of cybercrime this holiday season. Check out these five tips to help you stay alert and vigilant.

Be Suspicious of Potential Disinformation

Verify information is correct before you share anything on social media.

Don't Click on Advertisements

Only shop from trusted retailer websites. If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.

Beware of Fake Delivery Notifications

If you receive a notification for an unexpected delivery, don't click the link unless you've confirmed the purchase is real.

Be Careful Downloading Apps

Only download apps from your device's certified app store. Confirm the publisher is trusted and if in doubt, don't install it.

Monitor Bank Account & Credit Card Activity

Turn on alerts to notify you of activities such as large purchases or international transactions. Call your bank or card issuer by using the phone number on the card if you notice anything suspicious.