FBI Warns Consumers Be Cautious While Online Shopping

HOUSTON, TX — Cyber Monday may be considered one of the biggest shopping days of the Christmas season, but it’s also a day online thieves and crooks are hoping to do a little shopping of their own, using your credit card information.

The Houston office of the FBI is reminding everyone to be careful of online scams designed to steal your money and personal information while shopping online.

Cyber scammers often scheme to defraud consumers by offering too-good-to-be-true deals via phishing e-mails or advertisements.

Such schemes may offer brand name merchandise at extremely low discounts or promise gift cards as an incentive to purchase a product, while other sites may offer products at a great price, but the products being sold are not the same as the products advertised.

Steer clear of suspicious sites, phishing emails, or ads offering items at unrealistic discounts.

You may end up paying for an item, giving away personal information and credit card details, and receive nothing in return except a compromised identity.

Bottom line, do not open any unsolicited emails and do not click on any links attached.

Beware of posts on social media sites that appear to offer vouchers or gift cards, especially deals that are too good to be true, such as free gift cards.

Some of those scams may pose as holiday promotions or contests, but all too often, these scams lead you to participate in an online survey that is actually designed to steal personal information.

Law enforcement agencies advise consumers to guard their personal and financial information, and to secure banking and credit accounts with strong and different passwords, as well as all other accounts that contain anything of value, such as: rewards accounts, online accounts that save your payment information, or accounts containing your private, personal information.

Check your credit card and bank statements regularly to make sure no fraudulent charges have been made to your account.

If you suspect you’ve been victimized:

• Contact your financial institution immediately upon suspecting or discovering a fraudulent transfer.
• Request that your bank reach out to the financial institution where the fraudulent transfer was sent.
• Contact law enforcement.
• File a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.IC3.gov, regardless of dollar loss.

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