Online shopping gives cybercriminals many opportunities to scam you. Use these easy measures to provide peace of mind when shopping online.

Here are a few tips on how to protect yourself:

Think before you click

Beware of emails, texts, or other promotions. If you receive an offer, check to see if it is coming from an actual retailer and uses a web address that matches the company’s online store.

Consider your payment options

If possible, use a credit card instead of a debit card because there are more consumer protections if something goes awry. Consider using third-party payment options like Apple Pay or Google Pay wherever possible to protect your credit card information.

Keep tabs on your bank and credit card statements

Most banks and credit card companies allow their customers to set up alerts when transactions occur.

Use secure Wi-Fi

Avoid making purchases over public Wi-Fi networks (for example, at coffee shops or airports) because they are not secure.

Enable multi-factor authentication

Create long and unique passwords for all accounts and use multi-factor authentication (MFA) wherever possible.