Online Shopping Security Tips

Online shopping offers convenience and access to a larger marketplace, but it also comes with some risks. From fake websites to phishing scams, cybercriminals are constantly finding new ways to take advantage of unsuspecting shoppers. The good news? A few smart precautions can go a long way in keeping your personal and financial information safe. Here are some essential tips to help you shop securely online.

Keep An Eye On Your Bank Statements

Your first line of defense against fraud is to pay close attention to your financial records, like bank statements and credit card transactions. You can usually follow this data up-to-the-minute online. Be sure to flag any suspicious activity, such as being charged for a purchase you didn't make, and contact the institution immediately.

Set Up Alerts In Online Banking

Royal accounts feature the ability to personalize real-time alerts and get notified within seconds for account activity such as low or high balances, deposits, and withdrawals. These alerts will help you stay aware of any unusual activity so you can promptly take action.

Do Not Shop On Public Wi-Fi

Public wi-fi and computers are convenient and sometimes necessary to use. However, public wi-fi is not very secure, so you shouldn't ever shop online or access important accounts while connected to it. If you must make an online purchase while away from your home or work network, try to use cellular data, a VPN (virtual private network), or mobile hotspot.

Be Wary Of Phishing

Fraudsters often utilize phishing emails, text messages, and phone calls to trick you into clicking on links and providing sensitive information such as usernames, passwords, and account numbers to gain access to your accounts. You may even see fraudulent messages that appear to come from a reputable delivery company. Instead of clicking on those links, go directly to the service website and enter the tracking number or track your order through the merchant to check the status.

Know How Much Items Should Cost

When shopping online, have a general sense of how much the items you want to buy should cost. Not only will that make you a comparison shopper extraordinaire, but you can also get a sense if an online store has prices that are too good to be true or if the item is marked up far more than usual. These pricing issues should also prompt you to do more research about the retailer. Looking for reviews about the seller and checking several different websites can help protect you from ending up with an item that doesn't match the description, a counterfeit item, or not receiving an item at all!

Beware Of Grinch Bots

Last year, a record number of so-called "Grinch Bots" were recorded. These are automated programs that quickly buy up popular toys, sneakers, or other items and then resell the item for a huge mark-up to real people. Buying supposedly new items on a resale market can open you up to an increased risk of fraud and counterfeit goods. The best way to combat Grinch Bots is to refuse to buy from them and to only buy items from vendors you can verify.

Avoid Sharing More Than What’s Necessary

While you need to share data to make a purchase online, you should be wary of any retailer that is requesting more information than you feel comfortable sharing. You may not need to fill out every field during the ordering process, and you shouldn't if you don't want to. If an online store requires you to share more information than you want, find another retailer!

Use Cybersecurity Best Practices

Your best protection starts with you, so be sure you are following these important cybersecurity steps:

• Protect each account with a unique, complex password that is at least 12 characters long – and use a password manager!
• Use multifactor authentication (MFA) for any account that allows it.
• Turn on automatic software updates or install updates as soon as they are available.
• Know how to identify phishing attempts and report phishing or spam messages.

Learn more online safety tips at Online Safety + Privacy Basics - National Cybersecurity Alliance (staysafeonline.org) or check out the rest of our articles!