Shopping Safety is something should we should do.
It is the holiday season again, time to be with family and friends, time to shop for gifts and it is the time for the “Bad Guys” to take your stuff. Shopping Safety should be something that you practice every day. There are many ways that thieves can steal your stuff and maybe even your identity if you are not careful.
Going Shopping-Think Shopping Safety:
Remember to use common sense when you go to the mall or even downtown. In bigger cities a little thought will go a long way not only to prevent your gifts from being stolen but also protect your safety.
- Park under or near lights, especially at night.
- Lock your doors and remove anything that a thief would want from the inside of the vehicle.
- As you shop start to bring bags back to your vehicle and put them in the trunk or at least not in plain sight.
- When you approach your car, have your keys in your hands, unlock your vehicle as soon as possible, when you get inside lock the doors and immediately leave, do not make phone calls or text someone.
- While in the mall or store do not do things that call attention to yourself, like carrying 6 shopping bags full of gifts.
- Go shopping with someone, one person alone is an easier target.
- Don’t post on Facebook that you are going shopping, that lets the Bad Guys know that you won’t be home.
On-Line Shopping-Think Shopping Safety:
Every year more people are shopping on line. Cyber Monday seems to be the big on-line shopping day. Like shopping at a store the same should apply for shopping on the net…use common sense.
- Make sure that you have anti-virus and internet security protection and that it is up to date.
- You should always type the internet address that you want to go to in the search bar, when the results come up look for the official site.
- Avoid clicking on links in an email to take you to a site.
- You will receive a lot of email this time of year, be careful what you click it could be a scam email designed to put spyware on your computer.
- Always check your credit card statements for unauthorized items.
- Never use a debit card for shopping on line, if the “Bad Guys” get your card number they can drain your bank account, the banks will make you wait a long time before restoring your money.
- Always shop on-line with a credit card, it gives you the most protection.
Have fun “Safely” this Holiday Season.
For all you security needs contact Locking Systems International.
