Holiday Online Shopping Safety for 2022

Cybercrime continues to grow, especially as an increasing number of consumers turn to online shopping to fulfill holiday wishlists. Taking a few precautions can go a long way in preventing a cyber criminal from stealing your personal or financial data and ruining your holiday season. Be proactive and vigilant by following these tips for a safer online shopping experience.

  • Don’t shop on a public Wifi network unless you are using a virtual private network (VPN). Use encrypted (secure) Internet communications.
  • Keep your devices and software updated with the latest security patches. Use antivirus solutions, malware and firewalls to block threats.
  • Only shop at reputable sites.
    • Clicking on ads on web pages or social media? Make sure it’s a legit site. Look for sites with a verified secure connection, proper grammar and are in good working order. You wouldn’t go into a store with boarded-up windows and without signage, the same rules apply online. If it looks suspicious, something’s probably not right.
  • Be careful when clicking email links. Phishing scammers may pose as popular online retailers to try and gain your personal or financial information.
    • Watch for typos and poor grammar and other signs of phishing emails. Think before you click, and when in doubt, do NOT click.
    • Watch for suspicious activity that asks you to do something right away, offers something that sounds too good to be true or needs your personal information.
  • Use safe payment methods for purchases.
    • Only use payment methods that you feel secure using and understand.
    • Before providing personal or financial information, check the website’s privacy policy. Make sure you understand how your information will be stored and used.
  • Implement strong and safe passwords using a password manager, create complex passwords with upper and lowercase letters, numbers and special characters, and two-factor authentication.
  • Ship items to a secure location. Consider shipping to your office or another location that will keep your package from lingering on sidewalks or doorsteps.

Report cyberattacks

If you believe you have been a victim of a cybercrime, let the proper federal, state and local authorities know:

Phone: 816-474-4240
600 Broadway, Suite 200
Kansas City, MO 64105
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