Shopping for the holidays is now in full swing, but before you or your loved ones make those last minute purchases, there are a few things to keep in mind to protect your identity. Whether buying gifts at the mall or shopping online in the comfort of home, identity theft can be a real problem for consumers. In response to the growing risk of identity theft with online and in-store shopping, the Arizona Attorney General’s office has put together the following list of tips for this holiday season:
- Shop trusted sites like Amazon.com, Target.com or other familiar retailers
- Beware of misspellings or domain names using “.net” instead of “.com” as that is one of the common scams to trick customer
- Secure websites start with “https://” and will also have a small lock in the lower-right corner of the screen
- Never give anyone your credit card through email; use sites such as PayPal
- Don’t share personal information, no store needs your social security number or birthday
- Check billing statements for credit and debit cards regularly
- Keep your receipts in your purse or wallet, not in your shopping bags
- Make sure your receipts are emailed versus being physically mailed
If you find you or your loved one a victim of identity theft or fraud, call your local police or contact the Identity Theft Resource Center at 1-888-400-5530 for free assistance.
Happy Holidays!
