The Holiday Season is around the corner, and as you go shopping for special family gatherings or to purchase decorations for your home or gifts to share with others, it is important to take these safety precautions from Osceola County Extension Services and protect your personal information and purchases as you protect yourself during the busiest shopping times of the year. Check out some these holiday safety tips:
Stay Safe at the Store: keep your wallet inside your front pockets, purse or jacket. When carrying a purse keep it close to your body, and don’t place it in a shopping cart. Pull out your credit card or cash at the register only when you are asked to pay. Don’t widely open your wallet showing credit cards or lots of cash.
Designate one credit card for your holiday shopping. If a data breach does occur, you minimize the risk of your credit being compromised. It will be easier to track your spending as well. Save receipts and frequently monitor activity on your card.
Be aware of your surroundings inside a store. When shopping with children, keep an eye on them at all times. If your children are older, pick a location to meet in case you get separated. Provide safety tips to your children in case they get lost. For example, have them call you or text you their location. Also teach your children to ask for help from a security guard or a store staff employee. Ask for store staff assistance if you need to load big items.
Stay Safe in the Car: Drive safely and stay calm to avoid road rage during heavy traffic this holiday season. When in a parking lot, be aware of the area; don’t get distracted while you walk to the store or to your car with your shopping bags. Look around for anything or anyone suspicious. In big lots, take a photo of where you park; for example, in relation to the store or building or the parking lot row number.
Lock your vehicle. Don’t leave any items of value in your car were they can be seen. If possible, store shopping bags in the trunk of your car. When approaching your vehicle look around, under and inside. To avoid distractions, don’t talk on your phone, leaving your hands free to get in your car. Don’t use your phone earpiece so you can listen and be to hear any signs of danger surrounding you.
Stay Safe Online: If using online shopping, protect yourself from identity theft and scams. Don’t use public networks, hot spots or Wi-Fi. Stay on private networks to prevent hackers from intercepting your information.
Look for trustworthy and secure webpages. To identify secure, encrypted sites always look for the lock icon in the URL bar and verify the URL starts with https://. The “s” means the site is more secure. Don’t use an http:// address to complete an online purchase as it might not be safe.
Use a credit card or PayPal, which uses extra encryption, to make payments, and avoid using debit cards when purchasing online, as fraud protection may take longer to resolve and can tie up the funds in your account.
Always remember, if the deal sounds too good to the true, don’t commit to it as it is most likely a scam.
Research the business you are purchasing from and read the website reviews. Look for retailers’ complaints through the Better Business Bureau (BBB), check if the BBB symbol is displayed on the retailers’ webpage.
Take Away: It is the most wonderful time of year! We gather with our loved ones, family and friends and remember those who are no longer with us. By following these tips and many others provided by your local police, you make the holiday season experience one that is safe for you and others. Best wishes and stay safe!
For more information about local UF/IFAS programs and events contact us at http://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/osceola/ or at 321-697-3000.
