Online security tips for Cyber Monday

by Bernard de Vaal

Shopping online lights up security concerns for many, keeping them from the convenience of cashing in on the biggest online shopping day of the year.

With Black Friday’s doorbuster madness but a memory, its digital grandson, Cyber Monday, carries on its spending momentum, often offering even better deals.

Constable Harbinder Gill from LaSalle police reminds residents, “It’s not just seniors who are less web savvy falling prey to online scams.” With scammers upping their game, he says, “regular users aren’t immune to becoming victims anymore either.”

Cyber Monday is the biggest online shopping day of the year. In 2016, online retailers hit a record $3.45 billion in sales. This year, an estimated $6.6 billion could be generated in online sales according to Adobe forecasts for the U.S.

Concern over a surge in online criminal activity pushed LaSalle police to tweet a link to cyber security tips from Get Safe Online, a U.K. public/private sector partnership advancing security awareness.

“Cybercrime has become more prevalent and a lot more advanced since the days of just receiving questionable emails,” reminds Gill.

The first line of defense he says is education.

“Being aware and alert of what you’re clicking on and what sites you’re going to,” says Gill, will help keep you safe online.

The following hints are a surefire way to make your Cyber Monday and all future online shopping experiences, worry free.

• Any unexpected email, post or text asking for personal information is fake. Ignore it.
• The site’s email address should have a “https” and not only “http.” “S” stands for secure.
• Don’t sign up for anything ‘free’ until you’ve read the fine print, if there is any.
• Don’t pay money directly into any person or company’s bank account. Only use your credit card for insured payment.
• If you buy tickets for anything, only buy from reputable sites.
• After finishing payments, make sure to sign out and end your session.
• If it seems too good to be true, it most likely is.

For a more comprehensive overview of online security topics, visit their user friendly website at https://www.getsafeonline.org.

If you do happen to fall prey to an online scam, immediately report it to your local police station. You can further lodge an online complaint at the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.

This centre, along with the BBB (Better Business Bureu) also provides information on the newest scams and it’s always a good idea to keep yourself educated, no matter the level of your online proficiency.