Shop Safely Online this Holiday Season
Sometimes the prospect of heading to the nearest shopping center to shop for holiday gifts amid the crowds can be a bit overwhelming. That’s why it’s important to know how to shop safely online. Shopping online is an easy, convenient alternative to heading to the nearest stores if you know what steps to take to keep your finances safe.
When you shop online, there are several steps you can take to ensure your financial safety. First, try to avoid using debit cards when shopping online. While a number of credit cards offer various types of protections against online fraud, the same protections may not be available for debit cards. If a fraudster gains access to your debit card, your checking or savings account could be drained and you could ultimately be exposed to greater risk.
Additionally, check to see whether the Better Business Bureau approves the site on which you are shopping. Or, if that information is not available, see that the site’s Web address begins with https://. This shows that the site is secure and will encrypt any information you submit. If you’re still unsure, check the privacy policy on the site. This way, you can determine whether the site might sell or rent your information to third parties.
Try to make sure that your security software is up-to-date. Also, avoid entering personal information in a pop-up screen. Verified and legitimate companies would not seek personal information via pop-up screens. If you have a sense that an inquiry is not from a trusted source, don’t fill out any forms.
Similarly, follow your instincts. If you feel that an online request is not safe, it never hurts to do a little more research. It’s better to be safe than sorry. Take care to divulge your personal information cautiously when shopping on the Internet; that way, you don’t have to sacrifice your financial safety or your shopping sanity.
Tips of the Month:
Adding your Personal Information for Internet Scanning
Equifax WebDetect™ scans suspected underground Internet trading sites for your Social Security number (if you choose) and up to 10 major credit/debit card account numbers you provide. Simply enter your personal information in the Member Center to receive alerts if your information is found.
Steps:
- Step 1: Log into the Member Center
- Step 2: "Equifax WebDetect" is on the right side of screen
- Step 3: Click the green "Add" button
- Step 4: Enter whether you want to scan for your Social Security number and/or up to 10 major credit/debit card numbers in the form fields and click "Submit"
Intuitive navigation and a helpful dashboard structure make entering your information into the Member Center a breeze.
Want to add Equifax WebDetect™ to your Credit Watch subscription? Log into the Member center to add it for only $2 a month!
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Financial Tips to Start the New Year Right
During the holidays, it's easy to get wrapped up in the excitement of gift giving and forget the potential debt you may have just incurred. When shopping through the holiday season, keep in mind the actual cost of the items you bought. If you paid in cash or with a check, this is a non-issue.
If you paid by credit card — a tempting option with all of the special discounts for opening accounts around the holidays — you also have to factor in any interest charges that might build up. If you used credit for your holiday purchases, now's the time to create a plan to pay off that debt as quickly as possible. Reviewing your current credit report and score is a perfect place to start.
This Month’s Poll Question: The Equifax Monthly Newsletter
This month, we want to know YOUR favorite part of the Equifax monthly newsletter. This helps us ensure that you’re getting all of the information you want and helps us determine new, innovative sections to add! Check out next month’s newsletter to see what other customers thought and what the statistics show.*
Previous Poll Results:
In October we asked if you thought identity theft was more likely to occur during the holiday season. With an overwhelming 99% of results suggesting identity theft is just as likely or even more likely to occur during the holidays, we’re glad that you are savvy enough to understand the threat of identity theft and safeguard yourself against it. Identity theft can occur year-round, but scams can be tailored to fit the holiday season. By taking necessary precautions, you can protect the joy of the holidays from the threat of identity theft.
Look for more results in future newsletters.
Interactive Tool: Back This Month by Popular Demand –Tundra Tubbing!
Our efforts to keep the critters of the tundra comfy and warm in their winter whirlpool have been a huge success! If you didn’t take advantage of the link in last month’s newsletter, now’s the time to get in on the fur-flinging fun, or even challenge one of your friends to beat your high score!
Featured Product: Three-Bureau Credit Report plus FICO® Score
It’s never been more important to get the gift of financial awareness than this holiday season. Take advantage of this special pricing and receive:
- Line-by-line comparison of your credit history with Equifax, TransUnion and Experian
- Your FICO® Score — the score that lenders use most (calculated from the information in your Equifax credit file)
- What your most current score means, comparison with national averages, and a graph of how lenders view you
Get the gift of credit awareness for $39.95 only $29.95 – you save $10!
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Give it as a gift
Why not help those you love stay on top of their financial health in the new year? Give an Equifax 3-in-1 Credit Report plus FICO® Score as a gift.
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Equifax and BBB Identity Theft Alerts: ‘Tis the Season to be Giving
‘Tis the season for giving, and there are many ways you can give back to your community this holiday season. Whether you’re donating money, gifts, or your time, the BBB Wise Giving Alliance has guidance to help make sure your contributions have the most benefit for those in need this holiday season.
According to the Giving USA Foundation, donations totaled $295 billion in 2006; individuals accounted for 83.3 percent of this amount. In addition to donations, more than 61 million Americans volunteered their time for charitable and national service organizations.
If you plan on being one of the millions of Americans to donate time or money this holiday season, the BBB Wise Giving Alliance offers the following advice:
- When in doubt, check it out. When an unfamiliar organization asks you for a donation, don’t give without gathering details about the charity, the nature of its programs and its use of funds. Also contact the BBB Wise Giving Alliance or go to www.bbb.org/charity for a BBB Wise Giving Report™ on the charity.
- Think before you give. If you are solicited at the mall or on the street, take a minute or two to “think.” Ask for the charity’s name and address. Get full identification from the solicitor and review it carefully. Ask to see written information on the charity’s programs and finances.
- Giving later might be better. Never feel pressured to give on the spot. Legitimate charities will welcome your money tomorrow. If the solicitor pressures you with intimidation or harassing phone calls, don’t hesitate to file a complaint with BBB.
- Watch out for cases of mistaken identity. With more than one million charities in the U.S., it’s not surprising that some charity names sound alike. Be careful to confirm that the one soliciting you is the one you have in mind.
- Don’t accept vague claims. If something is being sold to benefit a charity, be wary of vague statements such as “all proceeds go to charity” or “your purchase will benefit a charity.” Look for a disclosure that indicates the actual or estimated amount of the purchase price that the charity will receive to fund its programs.
- Unordered merchandise is free. If a charity sends you greeting cards, address labels or other merchandise with an appeal for donations, you are not obligated to make a donation or pay for the items.
- Watch out for charity fraud. Legitimate charities do not demand donations; they willingly provide written information about their programs, finances or how donations are used; and they never insist you provide your credit card number, bank account number or any other personal information.
- Donate toys, food or services. Consider donating food, toys, clothing or other items needed during the holidays. Volunteering your time is another useful and much appreciated option.
- Remember, not all soliciting groups are charities. If you want to take a charitable deduction for federal income tax purposes, make sure to verify the organization’s tax-exempt status first. You can check out a charity’s tax-exempt status at http://apps.irs.gov/app/pub78.
For more trustworthy information and advice from the BBB Wise Giving Alliance on how to make informed donor decisions this holiday season go to www.bbb.org/charity. For more information on identity theft visit www.bbb.org.
© 2008 by the Council of Better Business Bureaus, Inc. Arlington, VA
Used by permission. The name Better Business Bureau is a registered service mark of the Council of Better Business Bureaus, Inc.
