Shopping Tips for a Safe and Secure Holiday Season

Every time we venture out the door with our wallet or purse, full of credit and debit cards, check books and personal identification, we run the risk of falling victim to theft.  But during the holidays, we up the ante when we shift into shopping crunch mode, increasing our exposure to such unfortunate circumstances. 

Some of us approach holiday shopping like a commando mission.  We fight traffic and navigate crowded stores, list in hand, determined to find a meaningful gift at the right price for everyone on our holiday gift list.  Often, it’s when we feel stressed, pressed for time and distracted by the crowds and hustle-bustle that we lose our focus or let our guard down. Thieves, scam artists and fraudsters know this, and they’re out there waiting to take advantage of unassuming shoppers.  Don’t gift them with any opportunities!

Holiday Shopping Safety Tips

If you still have shopping left to do, keep these tips in mind to protect yourself and your purchases during the holiday shopping season:

• Make a list of credit and debit card account numbers along with the phone number to call if they are lost or stolen.  If this does happen, you’ll have everything you need to act immediately and limit any liabilities.

• Leave extra cards and ID at home.  Remove any debit cards, store account cards or extra credit cards from your purse or wallet that you will not need while shopping.  Never carry your social security card or other forms of personal identification that could compromise your identity if your purse should be lost or stolen on your shopping trip.

• Don’t buy with your debit card.  In most cases, they offer consumers less protection against fraud in the event they are lost or stolen.  As the bank is investigating the theft, the funds in question may remain unavailable for some time, potentially causing bounced checks, late fees and big headaches.  Also, many credit cards offer a sort of purchase insurance, so if the item is broken or stolen, the credit card company will insure its replacement cost.  Ask your credit card company about it.

• Keep your card to yourself.  Don’t pull out your credit card to pay for a purchase until you get to the cash register.  As you stand there holding your card in line, someone could copy down your credit card number or snap a photo of your card with a cell phone. 

• Don’t give out too much information.  Be aware of your state’s merchant laws.  Many states have laws in place that limit what information merchants can and cannot ask for when you pay for purchases by personal check and/or credit card.  You’re always better off giving the least amount of personal information possible! (Check your state merchant laws at the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse).

• Get your card back after you make a purchase.  Double-check to insure the store clerk has returned your credit card, and you’ve put it back in your wallet before you leave the counter.

• While you’re shopping, act like you’re a tourist in a big city and take the same personal precautions to guard your credit cards.  Men should carry their wallets in their front pockets, and women should wear purse straps over the head and across the chest to thwart pickpockets and thieves.

• Stay alert as you walk to and from your car in the parking lot.  Find your keys while you’re still inside the store instead of digging for them as you walk to your car.  Have the key or car lock remote in hand and at-the-ready.  Many malls increase their security patrols during the holidays and may provide escort to your vehicle after dark.

• Lock your purchases in the trunk.  If you are shopping at the mall and decide to take a trip to the car to lighten your load, lock all your shopping bags and purchases in the trunk of the car.  Thieves won’t hesitate to break in if they think there may be something of value inside your vehicle.

Use common sense, exercise caution and practice credit card safety, so you can have a happy and productive holiday shopping season.  Of course, you can always avoid the traffic and crowded malls and shop for all your holiday gifts online from the comfort and convenience of your own home.  But shopping online presents another set of risks and dangers…get tips for last minute online holiday shopping.

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