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Cyber Monday Safety
11/30/09 - 05:44 PM
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A minute online saves you from hours in line. This holiday season, millions plan to shop for stocking stuffers on the internet.

“Probably go looking for things for my sister. Early Christmas shopping,” said online shopper, CJ Ellis.

With the convenience come safety concerns. There is worry that if you use certain sites your information may be stolen.

“Definitely with sites that you’re not familiar with you need to do some more background information,” said it manager at Tyndall Federal Credit Union, Todd Peeples.

Here are three clues to look for:

First, the web address should start “https.” The “s” means secure. Second, it should have a picture of a key lock with pop-up safety information. Third, the billing and shipping questions should stick to the basics. If you have to enter your social security number, it’s a red flag.

Shoppers that use these tips are confident that it’s okay.

“It’s a lot easier. It saves you hassle of being in long lines and people trying to get the sales early and stuff,” said Ellis.

Shoppers stood in long lines at their favorite stores on Black Friday, but early reports show that they spent money less than last year. On the flip side, online sales are up. It’s expected that 97 million Americans will shop online today, Cyber Monday.
If you do shop online, it’s recommended that you stick to familiar names. 

“With normal well known websites, I think you are absolutely fine,” said Peeples.

Whether you on a site or in a store, most banks and credit card companies take precaution too.

“We’re also taking the measures for you in the background to check that odd behavior and see if something that’s coming through that’s outside of the norm of your spending habits,” said Peeples.

So as you click through the holiday deals, make sure you check for internet scams.