4 Tips for Holiday Safety

The holiday season is a time to celebrate with friends and family, but the hectic pace can also make it a stressful time of year. The holidays can present increased risks, especially if you are on a quest for gifts. Overcrowded stores and an increase in online shopping offer greater opportunities for thieves to target your valuables.

Here are four tips to help you have a safe and enjoyable holiday season.

  1. Watch Out for Porch Pirates: As more consumers look to the web to make their holiday purchases, packages dropped off on front porches and stoops provide “porch pirates,” or thieves, with more opportunity to intercept home deliveries. When making a purchase online, take advantage of electronic delivery alerts and other protections to make sure your gifts are safely delivered – and received. It may also be helpful to instruct any delivery drivers to drop off packages in a safe location at a specific time, or opt to pick up any delivered items yourself from the nearest facility.
  2. Beware of Parking Lot Pilfering: While you are in the mall purchasing gifts for your friends and family, be careful if you decide to drop off items in your car mid-shopping trip. Purchases that you store in your car may catch the attention of thieves roaming through the parking lot in search of valuable items in unlocked cars. To help protect your car (and everything inside) from burglars during the holidays, shoppers should remember to always lock their doors, roll up their windows, park in well-lit areas and hide valuables from plain view.
  3.  Protect Your Identity, Both Online and in Stores: Before you go shopping, think about how much information a thief would get his hands on if your wallet or purse was stolen. Taking steps to protect your personal information, particularly during the holiday season when many stores see an increase in foot traffic, is key to preventing identity theft. Carry only those credit cards you need and avoid carrying Social Security cards, birth certificates or passports unless absolutely necessary. When shopping online, be sure to only use secure websites, log off from a site after you have completed your purchase, and monitor your bank accounts and credit card activity regularly throughout the holidays.
  4. Travel Safely: Whether you are heading to the mall for some holiday shopping or traveling to Grandma’s for a holiday celebration, the holiday season brings a number of unique driving risks – from changing weather conditions to traveling on unfamiliar roads. By planning extra travel time and eliminating distractions, you can help ensure safe travels during the holidays.

Reposted with permission from the original author, © 2018 The Travelers Indemnity Company. All rights reserved.

Online Identity Theft Prevention

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Going online has become part of everyday life, whether it is for everyday activities such as shopping, sending email or paying bills, and managing your accounts. But data breaches, in all their forms, can potentially expose the personal information that we share online, putting consumers at risk of identity theft.

According to the 2017 Travelers Consumer Risk Index, 57% of Americans worry about online identity theft. Fortunately, there are steps that consumers can take, including not opening unsolicited emails and avoiding unsecure websites, to protect their personal information while online.

The following tips can help you learn how to help stay safe online:

Online Shopping

  • Research potential retailers to make sure they are reputable and have a secure network and website. Try to avoid buying from a site that does not have a secure socket layer (SSL) encryption installed. In order to do this, look for the ‘s’ at the beginning of a URL – HTTPS:// instead of HTTP:// – to help determine if a site is SSL secured.
  • Read the site’s privacy policy to learn how the personal information you provide will be used.
  • Use only one credit card for online purchases. Be sure to read statements when received to check for fraudulent or unknown charges or activity.
  • If you receive an email regarding sales or discounts from a particular retailer, log on directly to the official website for the business. Avoid linking to it from an unsolicited email.

Emails and Attachments

  • Do not send personal information in email or instant messages. Emails are out of your control once sent, and can be easily intercepted.
  • Do not click on links you receive by email or encounter online that are suspicious or from unknown sources. Only accept and click if it:
    • Comes from someone you know.
    • Comes from someone you have received mail from before.
    • Is something you were expecting.
    • Does not look odd with unusual spellings or characters.
    • Passes your anti-virus program test.
  • Be cautious of emails you receive regarding your financial accounts. If you are not sure of the email’s validity, contact your financial institution directly.

General Online Safety

  • Try to limit the personal information you put on the Internet. Social media sites can be good for networking, but identity thieves can use the information you share.
  • Remember to keep your Web browser up to date. This can help ensure the latest security features are installed.
  • Avoid storing personal information, account numbers and personal identification numbers on your computer.
  • Install firewall and anti-virus software. This can help protect you from exposure to malicious cyber attacks.
  • Choose strong passwords and keep them private.

 

Reposted with permission from the original author, © 2018 The Travelers Indemnity Company. All rights reserved.