Scammed by sales: Tips to stay safe while shopping online

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Online shopping has become a healthier alternative for shoppers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, it can put your money at risk if you don’t shop safely. According to McAfee, online scams are up 12%.

Jill Thomas-Aviles, the vice president of payments and deposit operations for Jax Federal Credit Union, said fake sites pop up more often this time of year as more shoppers look to complete their holiday checklist online.

“If it’s too good to be true, it is,” she said. “They usually look like a real site, and then they’re a fake site just trying to steal your information.”

Thomas-Aviles offered some tips to avoid scams this holiday season.

She said customers should only put their credit card information on secure sites.

The “s” in “https” tells you the site is secure.

She also recommended avoiding using apps like Venmo to pay for goods.

“Those apps weren’t ever meant for that. They were meant specifically for paying someone you know,” she told Action News Jax reporter Robert Grant. “For example, going to dinner and splitting a meal.”

Jax Federal Credit Union offers customers a way to turn on and off your credit card. Thomas-Aviles recommends turning the card off when you’re not purchasing anything to keep control.

If you do believe you’ve fallen victim to a scam, she said call your financial institution immediately and turn off your card.

You should also monitor your account activity regularly.

You can check your credit report here for free once a week through April of 2021. Usually the website only lets you check once a year, but made changes for the COVID-19 pandemic.

You can also report fraud to the Federal Trade Commission here

Cox Media Group