Safety Tips for the shopping season
Maxxguard wants you to have a safe and happy holiday season. We’d also like to share these safety tips while shopping in person as well as online during the holidays.
While shopping in stores:
Pay with cards or checks when possible. Flashing cash during the shopping season is a dangerous habit.
Park and walk in well-lit areas. Thieves often target dimly lit and remote parking areas and entrances/exits.
Walk with confidence and be aware of the people around you in the parking lot. Thieves often target those who seem weak or distracted.
Wait until you are asked before pulling out your credit card or checkbook, and cover your keypad code entry as well. Thieves often shoulder surf to steal account information.
Be extra aware of where your purse, wallet, and cell phone are…at all times. Thieves take advantage of shoppers who are not focused during the holidays.
Deter pickpockets by keeping your purse close to your body, and/or your wallet inside a coat or front pants pocket.
When returning to your vehicle, already have your keys in your hand. Someone standing beside their car, fishing through a purse, makes for an easy target.
Don’t leave packages on car seats. Keeping them covered or in the trunk prevents a smash and grab temptation for a thief.
After the holidays, don’t pile up your empty TV boxes (for example) by the side of the road. This is an easy advertisement for thieves regarding what is inside your home.
While shopping online:
Before surfing the ‘net, update your security software. Smart thieves create new spyware or viruses just before the holidays…sneaking under the radar of previous updates.
Of course, keep your personal info private and your passwords secure. Avoid responding to emails requesting you “verify” your password or credit card information. Legitimate businesses will not blindly contact you in this manner.
Be hesitant to respond to emails featuring unreasonable “bargains” from companies—if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is, and may not even be the company they are purporting to be.
Use secure websites for online purchases. There should be an icon of a locked padlock at the bottom of the screen or “https” in the URL address.
Shop with the companies you know. Avoid unfamiliar companies during the holiday season.
Save all of your online purchase receipts. Print & save confirmations as well. It’s smart to create a file folder specifically for holiday purchases so you can easily compare to bank and credit card statements later.