Holiday Shopping Alert: Protect Your Personal Info

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — While you're being thankful, protect yourself. The start of the holiday shopping season is known not only for bargains, but also for the increasing amount and variety of crimes against the unwary.

Stay vigilant when shopping this year and make sure you are aware of the steps you need to take to avoid becoming a victim of these crimes.

"I encourage all New Yorkers to exercise diligence to protect themselves when shopping throughout the holidays and beyond," Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a press release.

Black Friday and beyond: in-store shopping tips

• Take Note of the Purchase and Use Rules Related to Gift Cards -- Consumers should carefully review the terms and conditions of use prior to purchasing a gift certificate or card, including the imposition of various fees, especially 'dormancy fees' for non-use. Consumers should also check the card's expiration date and determine if there are any restrictions on the use of the gift card. They should be aware of the replacement policy in case it is lost or stolen.
• Be Careful Purchasing Big Ticket Items -- When purchasing big ticket items, consumers should look for warranty coverage on the item; check out stock availability; and, evaluate financing options carefully. As consumers comb retail advertisements, they should take note of the fine print and the quantity of the product available at the advertised price, as well as whether rain checks are available.
• Understand Layaway Plans -- Layaway plans vary by store. Consumers should make sure they read all of the terms in the contract and have their questions answered regarding the payment schedules, refund policies and penalties for missing a payment before moving forward with a layaway. A copy of the contract and a record of payments should be retained by the purchaser.
• Read the Retailers Refund and Return Policy -- Consumers should review a store's refund policy before considering a purchase. If the store does not post a return policy, the law requires the store to accept a receipted return within 30 days of purchase. It is important to inquire whether the store imposes a re-stocking fee for returned merchandise and determine prior to purchase if the item can be returned for a refund or store credit only.
• Avoid Credit Card Debt -- If not careful, holiday purchases may cost consumers more than what is on their receipt. Consumers are urged to avoid credit card debt by tracking their spending, being cognizant of credit card limits, stick to a realistic budget and verify receipts and reconcile them against their statement. In addition, consumers should refrain from using their credit card for cash advances. The fees and interest on such transactions are higher than for credit card purchases. Always review your monthly credit card statements carefully to ensure that you are being billed for the correct dollar amount.

In 2016, there were 20,205 identity theft complaints reported by consumers in New York State. According to the FBI's 2016 Internet Crime Report, New Yorkers claimed a total loss of over $106 million resulting from cyber-related crimes. To maximize the chances of securing great online deals, while minimizing online shopping risks, consumers should engage in safe online behavior. This holiday season, and all year long, keep the following tips in mind when purchasing online.

Cyber Monday and beyond: online shopping tips

• Do your Research. Shop with merchants and websites you know and trust. Check out the seller's reputation at the Better Business Bureau to see if there are any reviews that mention potential scams or problems. Also, review the privacy policy of the merchant website and understand what personal information is being requested and how it will be used, and if it will be shared or sold to others.
• Protect your Computer. Keep your operating system and application software updated on all computers and mobile devices. Be sure to check that your anti-virus/anti-spyware software is running and receiving automatic updates. Confirm that your firewall is enabled.
• Be Wary of Ads. Avoid clicking on banner ads or pop-ups since they may link to a malicious website. If you see an advertisement from a reputable brand for a deal or promotion that you are interested in, go to the company's website directly for more information.
• Keep Documentation of your Order. Save records of your online transactions, including the product description and price, the online receipt, and the emails you send and receive from the merchant. Review your credit card statements to confirm that all charges are legitimate. If you have unauthorized charges on your account, contact your credit card company immediately.
• Shop only on secure Internet connections. Do not conduct any transaction that involves personal, financial, or credit card information while using an open and unsecured Wi-Fi connection. Be careful not to shop, conduct business, or send sensitive or personal information out on these networks because identity thieves often stake out open networks seeking victims. When entering payment information online, you should verify that HTTPS is in your address bar to protect yourself from identity thieves and cyber criminals. URLs that begin with https:// instead of the standard http:// are secured by SSL – an internet security protocol.
• Do not be tricked by confusingly similar website and domain names. Pay particular attention to your retailer’s URL when shopping online. Scammers use variants of a known company’s Internet address to try and lure users into visiting fake websites. They often target users through email or social media. Avoid clicking on links from email or social media sites. Watch out for websites with URLs that differ slightly from those of legitimate online retailers, and links that appear genuine but direct your browser to a completely different URL. To ensure safe shopping online, type the URL of your desired retailer directly into your web browser — and watch for typos.
• Protect yourself by using credit or debit cards. With the advent of point-of-sale malware and rampant data breaches, identity thieves are now more sophisticated and dangerous than ever. If you are going to make purchases online, you can best protect yourself from the risks of identity theft and fraud by using credit or debit cards. Determine which is best for you and your purchase needs.
• Credit: Credit cards generally offer better purchase protection and fraud dispute resolution than other methods of payment. When you use a credit card, you are accessing a line of credit from the issuer. Note that each purchase is essentially a loan you must repay later, often with high interest.
• Debit: Debit cards are tied directly to your checking account so they’re best used to help avoid credit traps. There is little risk getting into debt with debit cards, but be careful of overdraft charges. Further, if your debit card is lost or stolen, you must report it within two business days to limit your loss to $50.
• Be wary of too-good-to-be-true contests and prize promotions. Consumers should be suspicious of any email, messages, or posts on social networks promoting giveaways or contests that seem too good to be true, g., free high-value gift cards, tablets, and smartphones. These “contests” are often scams designed to bilk consumers out of money and/or to collect consumers’ personal information for resale. Genuine sweepstakes and contests are commonplace on the Internet; however, you should avoid any contest or promotion that requires you to pay money or to perform any sort of financial transaction. Also, think twice before participating in promotions that require entrants to register with multiple third-party websites; often these are ploys to build marketing lists. Promotions that require users to provide more than simple contact information may even be phony or run by scammers who resell consumer information to collect referral fees.
• Read the fine print. Broadly worded promotional offers and advertisements often mislead consumers into paying full price for items they believed were on sale. Consumers should carefully examine Internet deals by reading any and all fine print in the promotional materials and identifying the exact brand and model number on sale. Consumers should also avoid bait-and-switch advertisements or promotions that lure consumers with basement prices that are not guaranteed to be in stock. Fine print stating that quantities are limited is a tell-tale sign of this bait-and-switch tactic.

State Police Superintendent George P. Beach II said, "As online shopping continues to increase, consumers are becoming vulnerable targets for cyber criminals who seek to steal their financial information. Just as the public must be aware of their physical surroundings, we remind consumers to be aware of the online sites that they visit as well. Make sure the sites you shop are secure and that your computer and electronic devices are up-to-date with current security software. Don't share your passwords and make sure you close your browsers when you are done shopping. Lastly, check your financial statements regularly to make sure you are not a victim of fraud. Consumers need to be vigilant in protecting themselves when shopping online."

If any New Yorker has a problem with a retailer subsequent to a purchase, they are encouraged to file a complaint with the New York State Department of State, Division of Consumer Protection. The Consumer Assistance Helpline 1-800-697-1220 is available Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm, excluding State Holidays, and consumer complaints can be filed at any time via the DCP website. The New York State Division of Consumer Protection provides voluntary mediation between a consumer and a business when a consumer has been unsuccessful at reaching a resolution on their own.

For more helpful tips on staying safe online throughout the holiday season or for additional online safety resources, including real-time advisories, daily tips and many user-friendly awareness materials, click here.