Stock image | Photo by Poike/iStock/Getty Images Plus, St. George News
CONTRIBUTED CONTENT — Holiday shopping season is a particularly dangerous time of year when it comes to scams and fraud. More purchases are being made online, which creates more opportunities for thieves to get a hold of your financial information and other sensitive data.
The “Internet People” at InfoWest have kept Southern Utah connected and protected since 1994. With that in mind, they’re answering some common consumer questions about staying safe while shopping online.
“Internet shopping scams are more common than people think,” said Emma Young, marketing assistant at InfoWest. “Just like driving, be cautious and aware of everything you’re doing.”
What are some basic ways to stay safe when shopping online?
Before entering your payment information or other sensitive data, verify that the website you’re on is secure. Secure websites will have “https” written before “www” in the address bar at the top of your browser, which means that the website uses encryption to protect your data.
Only provide your credit card information to websites you trust and/or websites that have a good reputation for protecting consumer privacy. If you’re unfamiliar with a website,…
