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How to protect yourself from online shopping scams

Posted at 4:57 PM, Nov 27, 2020
and last updated 2020-11-27 16:57:49-05

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — In past years, shoppers have lined up overnight in hopes of snagging the best Black Friday deals. But with COVID-19 forcing many retailers to keep their doors shut, many consumers have turned to online shopping.

But before engaging in Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals, make sure you are doing it safely by protecting your identity and using legitimate websites.

"A lot of the deals people are finding are things that are coming to them via email. Or they are finding it on websites that are just out there," cybersecurity expert Arun Vishwanath said.

So here are some of his tips to protecting yourself online.

  1. Try to avoid third-party websites.
  2. If you have to make an account to purchase from a website, use a unique password.
  3. Pay with a credit card if possible.
  4. Follow your gut! If the deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.

“If you see something out there that looks fraudulent, report it so other people can benefit," Vishwanath said.