Josh Elledge - CEO, UpMyInfluence
Staying Safe While Shopping Online!
If you don't want to miss out on the best online offers, you have to know where to go and how to be safe getting there!
Each of these online shopping tips start with knowing where to go to get the best deals followed up with how to know it's safe.
Get in the know with emails:
Sign up with your favorite big-name retailers, any smaller or local retailers, restaurants, and services as well.
Be safe with emails:
Beware of any unsolicited emails and never click through an email you weren’t expecting!
Over the holiday season, unsolicited emails and phishing scams increase exponentially.
An unsolicited email may be posing as a genuine company but actually directs the victim to a fraudulent site.
According to FBI.gov, “Scammers use many techniques to fool potential victims including… phishing emails advertising brand name merchandise for bargain prices or e-mails promoting the sale of merchandise that ends up being a counterfeit product.”
If you are interested in an advertised deal but are unfamiliar with the company, do a search online to verify their legitimacy.
Never simply click through any provided links in the email.
Get in the know with Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest:
Follow your favorite retailers and local shops on social media. This is one of the fastest ways to hear about hot deals.
Be safe with Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest:
Just like in emails, bogus deals float all around social media. Often people will share them, not even realizing themselves that it is a scam.
Unless you are on a trusted business’s page, be wary of any clickable links, and treat like you would email. Go directly to the business’s website instead to verify the deal.
Get in the know with the app:
Some businesses with apps you can grab in the App Store or on Google Play:
Best Buy, Amazon.com, Target, Home Depot, Kohl’s, JCPenney, Old Navy, Bed, Bath & Beyond, Hobby Lobby, Sam’s Club, Kmart, Macy’s, Sears, H&M, Overstock.com, QVC, Aeropostale, Walgreens, Sears, Meijer, Children’s Place, American Eagle Outfitters, and Footlocker.
Stay safe with the app:
Staying safe with store apps is pretty simple. Prior to downloading and installing any app, read and evaluate the reviews others have posted.
Any flaws or potential danger will be mentioned there. The other safety recommendation is to only download using a trusted source like the App Store or Google play, never a third party.
Remember to shop safely this holiday season!
