During the holiday season stay vigilant when dealing with offers and conducting online transactions to guard against potential scams. Online shopping and transaction scams can range from tempting offers that are too good to be true, to counterfeit products and bait-and-switch schemes. By implementing practical steps, the risks of falling prey to these scams can be lowered.

Key Takeaways and Next Steps

Keep an eye out for deals that appear too good to be true.

Be skeptical before clicking on appealing ads. It's an approach usually employed by cybercriminals to lure you into sharing your personal or financial information.

Always verify the source of offers.

Do an online search for the company or product name along with terms like "review," "scam," or "complaint." A slew of negative reviews or complaints should raise flags.

Ensure that the website you're shopping from is secure.

Check if the URL begins with ‘https’ rather than ‘http’, as this indicates that the site is encrypted and safe to use.

Install reliable antivirus software on your computer--keep it updated.

This tool can help provide protection against malware and other cyber threats that may try to steal your information.

Keep your personal and financial information secure.

Be wary of unsolicited emails or texts asking you for personal or banking details; legitimate organizations will not do this. Always use credit cards over debit cards when shopping online, as credit cards offer better fraud protection.