Shop Smart In Your PJs

Fifty-five percent of shoppers plan to shop online this holiday season, according to the 2011 Consumer Reports Holiday Shopping Poll.  These shoppers are on the lookout for great deals and unique items from the comfort of their home.  Are you one of them?  If so, follow a few basic guidelines to keep your identity, money and sanity safe.  You certainly don’t want any added worries on top of cooking, wrapping, entertaining and cleaning this holiday season.

• Do business online with companies you know.  At the very least, most reputable online merchants will list a physical address and a phone number, so you can always call them and ask questions. If you’re still unsure, the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse says to research the company with the Better Business Bureau.
  

• Be wary of public Wi-Fi access.  When you log-in at your favorite coffee shop you are open to the possibility of malicious attacks from others using the same network.  Be sure to turn on your firewall and turn off your sharing, or just wait to enter sensitive information at home on a secure network.

• VISA® suggests making sure your transactions occur in a secure environment. Look for the padlock icon at the bottom of your browser window. The website address, or URL, should also begin with https:// on any pages where you enter sensitive information.
  

• Look for third-party seals of approval.  Microsoft suggests you look for a BBB seal or a TRUSTe seal, as these merchants have to abide by high standards on how information they collect is used.
  

• And finally, listen to your gut.  If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.  If you aren’t quite sure, you can use a site like www.bizrate.com to determine if the shopping experience is a good one for most customers.
  

>> Are you shopping online this holiday season?  Is it to avoid the crowds, or do you have some go-to online merchants?  Share with the community all of your fabulous online finds!

Back To School Already?

In last week’s question, we asked you what you would do if you suddenly had a windfall of money. 37% replied that the first thing they would do is pay off bills, 27% would make a donation to their favorite charity, 18% would fund an education or retirement account, and 18% would buy something really nice to celebrate.

It’s nearly Back To School Time! There was a commercial on TV last year at this time with the holiday tune, ‘It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year’ in the background. Is that the way you feel when you think of the kids heading back to class?

>> Let’s talk. What does back-to-school time mean to you?

Enjoy the Summer, Keep your Debit Card Info Safe

This summer you may find yourself traveling a long distance for a fun adventure, or you may be driving the kids all over town or around the state for different events, such as swimming lessons and little league baseball games. This means using your debit card more often than you usually do – for the purchase of fuel, flights, food and fun. You’ll also find yourself at your local ATM more often. Even though you’re busy, it’s important to take a moment to manage your money and to remember some safety tips when using your card.

The following are some Consumer Reports suggestions about staying safe this summer…

• Beware when using foreign ATMs –
  If you see an out-of-order sign on a legitimate ATM, beware of using a nearby ATM. Thieves may have set up a phony ATM to “skim” card data. Consumer Reports also suggests keeping your PIN code separate from your ATM or debit card. Also, when keying your PIN into an ATM or card reader, shield the keypad with your free hand. Do not allow hidden cameras or any person to be in sight of the keypad.

• Protect your card and information at gas pumps –
  Consumer Reports reported “Card-skimming at gas stations is likely to increase during summer months, especially in vacation areas.” To protect yourself, they suggest using cash or credit cards at the pump, if possible. Should you have to use a debit card, process it as a credit card transaction instead of using your PIN.

• Update your account weekly –
  Be sure to maintain your account, so should any unauthorized transactions take place, you may report them to your bank quickly. Time is of the essence!

• What to do with receipts? –
  Do not discard receipts at ATM locations or the gas pump. Keep them until you match the amounts with the transactions, wait for them to clear the bank, then shred the receipts.

• Your trash may be a treasure to a thief –
  Be sure to shred bank account statements and other financial information prior to tossing them in the trash. Trash is among the top methods used by thieves to commit Identity Theft. Protect yourself – Don’t let them do it to you!

>> Have you heard of other “card-skimming” scams? Share with the community, so that we all can work to protect our identity.