Green Bay Certified Financial Planner ™ Shares Tips for Safe Online Shopping

This week, Craig Siminski, of CMS Retirement Income Planning, shares with us an article discussing ideas that could help online shoppers protect themselves from cyber criminals and scams:

According to the National Retail Federation, online sales accounted for over $1 trillion of total U.S. retail sales in 2021.1 Online shopping is especially popular during the holiday season, enabling you to avoid the crowds and conveniently purchase gifts using your smartphone or computer.

Unfortunately, the popularity of online shopping also means that cyber criminals and online scams are more prevalent than ever. 

Here are some tips to help protect yourself when shopping online.

Check Your Device

Make sure that all of your devices (e.g., mobile phone, computer, and tablet) are up-to-date and configured to update automatically or notify you when updates are available.

Maintain Strong Passwords

Create strong passwords, at least 8 characters long, using a combination of lower- and upper-case letters, numbers, and symbols, and don’t use the same password for multiple accounts.

Use Multi-Factor Authentication When Available

Two-factor or multi-factor authentication, which involves using a one-time code sent to your mobile device in addition to your password, provides an extra layer of protection.

Watch Uut for Phishing Emails

Beware of emails that contain links or ask for personal information. Legitimate shopping websites will never email you and randomly ask for your personal information.

In addition, don’t be fooled by fake package delivery updates. Make sure that all delivery emails are from…

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Craig Siminski is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, with more than 25 years of experience. His goal is to provide families, business owners, and their employees with assistance in building their financial freedom.

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