No doubt you are part of the millions of Americans that are doing part of their holiday shopping online. With data breaches from well know retailers like Target, Home Depot and EBay, you are aware that credit card information can be hacked. The vast majority of online transactions are secure. Still, we need to take precautions with our online purchases. Here are a three simple tips from American Express on ways to make your online purchases more secure.
Be Protected with Fraud Alerts
Most credit card companies will allow you to set up protection alerts on your card. You can customize these alerts to fit your particular situation. When you combine your alerts with the credit card company’s oversight, you are spotting suspicious activities very quickly.
Change Your Passwords Regularly
Credit card companies recommend that you change your password regularly to help prevent unauthorized access to your account. Here are some tips to keep in mind: Create strong passwords for your accounts using a combination of letters, numbers and symbols. Use different passwords for all the sites you use.
Spot a Scam
Fraudulent emails look as if they’ve come from legitimate organizations. If you receive an email you’re your credit card company that does not address you by name and include the last five digits of your account number, you should forward it to the company. Do not automatically respond to these emails with your personal information.
Conclusion
By following these simple tips, you can make your online purchases and your holiday celebrations more secure. In the next post I will share some thoughts on making your retail holiday shopping more secure.
