6 Online Holiday Shopping Tips to Guard Your Money

ANNAPOLIS, MD — Whether you plan to drive to the stores for your holiday shopping, or shop online from home, local police departments have safety tips for you. Consumers need to know when a website looks fishy, how best to safeguard their money in transactions, and how to make it safely through busy mall parking lots with frazzled drivers.

The Annapolis Police Department has shared reminders on how best to buy gifts online, while the Montgomery County Police Department has advice on parking lot safety for drivers and pedestrians.

Holiday Safety Tips for Online Shoppers

• Conduct research: When using a new website for purchases, read reviews and see if other consumers have had a positive or negative experience with the site.
• When in doubt, throw it out: Links in emails, posts and texts are often the ways cybercriminals try to steal your information or infect your devices.
• Personal information is like money: value it and protect it: When making a purchase online, be alert to the kinds of information being collected to complete the transaction. Make sure you think it is necessary for the vendor to request that information. Remember, you only need to fill out required fields at checkout.
• Use safe payment options: Credit cards are generally the safest option because they allow buyers to seek a credit from the issuer if the product isn’t delivered or isn’t what was ordered.
• Don’t be disappointed: Read return and other polices so you know what to expect if the purchase doesn’t go as planned.
• Protect your $$: When shopping, check to be sure the site is security enabled. Look for web addresses with https:// indicating extra measures to help secure your information.

Last year the Montgomery County Police shared advice for both drivers and pedestrians to safely make their way through clogged parking lots.

The Parking Lots Safety Message:
Drivers:

• Don’t drive distractedly – it’s illegal to hold a phone or text while driving.
• Don’t assume pedestrians see you.
• Be especially cautious backing out of a space.
• Slow down! Parking lots are not speedways.

Pedestrians:

• Stop talking on the phone and texting while walking. Take out the ear buds.
• Don’t assume drivers see you.
• Don’t walk behind a vehicle that is backing out.
• Be aware and constantly look out for moving vehicles.

Respect the Space reminders:

• Drivers are reminded that it is illegal to park a vehicle without disability tags or license in a designated disability parking space. The fine is $250.
• The individual who was issued a placard or plate must be transported in the vehicle for the vehicle to legally park in a designated disability parking space.
• Parking in a striped area/access aisle adjacent to and between disability spaces is also against the law. Those striped areas allow room for wheelchair lifts to load and unload passengers.
• Disability parking spaces are located in all parking lots and garages within parking districts for the exclusive use of those with disability tags or placards. Even when vacant, they are never, even for a matter of minutes, for use by anyone else.

»Photo of Bethesda parking garage, courtesy Google Street View