Cyber Monday: Top Tips for Avoiding Scams
Nov. 29, 2010— -- It's easy to be dazzled by the dizzying array of Cyber Monday deals promising online shoppers steep cuts and savings. But don't get snared by holiday scams as you search for seasonal sales.
About 96.5 million Americans scouted out Cyber Monday sales last year, according to the National Retail Foundation. And analysts say a record number of retailers are offering some kind of online promotion today.
But as retailers ramp up their Internet-based efforts, so do cyberthieves, who can scam shoppers with malicious links, credit card fraud and phishing attacks.
"The holiday season is always ripe with these types of scams," said Hiep Dang, director of operations for security firm McAfee Labs. "It's the perfect storm of consumers ready to buy and the bad guys ready to exploit them. People are so frantic in trying to get their holiday shopping done that, sometimes, they're a little more vulnerable to scams."
ABCNews.com spoke to security experts about ways to stay safe while shopping online. Check out their tips below.
1. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
"First rule of thumb: If it sounds too good to be true, chances are, it is," Dang said.
You might desperately want to gift a loved one Apple's new iPad, but if an online promotion tries to lure you with a free one if you just hand over your credit card information, don't fall for it.
If a website, pop-up ad or e-mail offers you a hard-to-get holiday item at a super-low price (or even for free), tread very carefully, he said.
Stick to websites you know and trust or, if you encounter a new one, look for the Better Business Bureau seal or check out the site with your state's consumer protection department.
