Unfortunately, online shopping opens possibilities for scammers and fraudsters lurking in cyberspace. However, that doesn't mean you shouldn't shop online. Instead, follow these tips for staying safe as you shop online.
Online Shopping Tips
- Stick to reputable sites. When in doubt, check the Better Business Bureau or do a Google search for independent reviews of the sites.
- Check the web addresses of sites before entering any information. Three things to look for:
- HTTPS at the beginning of the address on checkout pages to indicate the site has a secure address;
- Look for spoof sites that have minor alternations in spelling to look like a real one; and
- Sites that redirect you to another page. (Did you catch the redirect on this page from http://www.shoppingsafely.org to the address in your browser bar now?)
- Create usernames and passwords for shopping accounts that are different from your financial accounts and e-mail.
- Check out as a ‘guest.’ If you only plan to shop at an online retailer once for a specific gift, do not store your card number on the site.
- Consider using a prepaid card to manage your budget and avoid debt.
Gift Card Safety
Gift cards are simple and convenient payment and gift options—evidenced by their widespread popularity and use. According to the National Retail Federation, gift cards have been the most popular gifts in America for 13 years in a row—in addition to being popular incentives and rewards. According to Fiserv, 64 percent of people even buy gift cards to spend on themselves! People love giving, receiving, and using gift cards in physical or digital (“egift”) form, but unfortunately, so do fraudsters.
To help you avoid scams and have safe, positive gift card experiences, the Retail Gift Card Association recommends that you:
- Check physical gift cards for package tampering before you buy them. The gift card package may have specific instructions on what signs of tampering to look for, so be sure to review and follow those instructions before purchasing a card.
- Buy gift cards directly from retailers, trusted sources, and known brands--especially when you buy online.
- Store your gift cards securely. Keep physical cards in a wallet, purse, or other secure place. If the card has a PIN covered by scratch-off material, leave the scratch-off material in place until the PIN is required. Keep egifts secured in a password-protected account or mobile wallet with a strong password and multi-factor authentication (MFA).
- Never share gift card accounts or PINs with people you don’t know.
- Send physical gift cards via trackable shipping methods and egifts via a secure email or mobile programs that are password protected.
- Double check the recipient’s email address or mobile number before sending an e-gift card.
- Monitor your card transaction history online where available. If you see any suspicious activity, contact your gift card issuer immediately.
- Ensure you monitor account balances and transactions only on their product’s official website, which is usually printed on the back of your gift card. Avoid typing your card information into scammer “imitation” sites.
- Retain a receipt or other proof of purchase of your card. If you give a gift card as a gift, include a receipt along with it.
What to do if You Have a Problem
Call the card issuer. On the back of every card, there is the contact information for your card issuer. When you notice something is wrong, report it to the issuer to protect yourself.
If you think you've been scammed. The Innovative Payments Association works with our member companies, not individuals, so we cannot offer individual or specific advice tailored to your situation. Thus, we cannot directly help you respond to a scam if you are a victim or have been taken advantage of by a fraudster. However, we can provide general guidance, and you can identify key publicly available resources that can help you if you are the victim of a scam.
If you think you've been scammed. The Innovative Payments Association works with our member companies, not individuals, so we cannot offer individual or specific advice tailored to your situation. Thus, we cannot directly help you respond to a scam if you are a victim or have been taken advantage of by a fraudster. However, we can provide general guidance, and you can identify key publicly available resources that can help you if you are the victim of a scam.
InComm Payments is proud to sponsor the IPA’s Shopping Safely initiative. As a leading global payments technology company, InComm Payments is dedicated to supporting our partners and their customers wherever payments happen. Learn more at www.incomm.com.