Protecting yourself during holiday shopping seasons—especially online—is about using caution and verifying legitimacy at every step. Follow these smart shopping tips to keep your information and money safe:

• Avoid unfamiliar retailers unless you’ve verified their reputation.
  • Google the company name with the word “scam” or “reviews.”
  • Look it up on the Better Business Bureau, FTC, or your state attorney general’s website.
• Don’t click on links in emails or social media ads, especially if the deal seems too good to be true.
  • Instead, type the retailer’s web address directly into your browser to go to the official site.
  • Watch out for minor misspellings in domain names, which are often signs of phishing scams.
• Check the website’s security before entering any information.
  • Only shop on sites that begin with https (not just http) and display a padlock icon in the address bar.
  • Avoid sites that redirect you multiple times or have pop-ups asking for sensitive information.
• Use a credit card—not a debit card—for all online purchases.
  • Credit cards offer better fraud protection and limit your liability if something goes wrong.
  • Consider using a virtual credit card number from your card issuer for extra security.
• Use Google Safe Browsing to check if a site is flagged as suspicious:
  • Visit: https://transparencyreport.google.com/safe-browsing/search
• Watch out for phishing tactics.
  • Do not open attachments or click on links in unsolicited emails.
  • If a company you know reaches out with an offer, go to their site manually to verify it.
• Be cautious about too-good-to-be-true offers.
  • A $120 necklace for $10 or a bouquet at 90% off is usually a red flag.
  • Scammers rely on urgency and emotional appeal to lower your guard.

Taking these steps can help ensure your Mother’s Day gift doesn’t turn into a cyber nightmare. A little caution now can protect your finances—and your personal information—from long-lasting damage.