Safety Tips for Online Dorm Shopping
My social media feed is filling up with pictures of kids moving into fully decked-out dorm rooms. I know my friends have been shopping online and organizing for months to make sure their kids are set up for a successful first year of college. Here are some safety tips for online dorm shopping to avoid the risks of hackers and scams.
- Choose secure payment sites like Venmo or Zelle over debit cards. Credit cards are a good choice as well, as the bank may be able to help if something goes wrong with a transaction. Debit payments may not be able to be recovered if sent to the wrong party.
- Use only well-know shopping sites and make sure to update the software on your devices. Avoid using public wifi while shopping, as it’s easier for criminals to access this information on a network that isn’t secure.
- Strong passwords and 2-factor authentication are key ways to prevent thieves and hackers from accessing your accounts. In fact, try not to save payment information to store sites as well.
- Another safety tip for online shopping is to keep an eye out for email scams and fishy pop-ups. Once hackers have your email address or IP address, they may contact you with fraudulent offers and sketchy links.
- Always keep copies of online receipts, confirmation emails and package tracking information. You’ll need to provide information about any purchases that go awry, so having handy access to it is important.
Lastly, as your wrap up your dorm shopping make sure to check your credit report and credit card statements regularly. The sooner you contact your bank or credit card company regarding suspicious activity, the more likely they will be able to help.
Cultris Security is here for your security alarm and monitoring needs. Contact us online or call 281-506-8466.
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