With #BlackFriday and #CyberMonday approaching soon, we wanted to pass on some handy online and cyber safety tips and things to look out for!

So… How can you protect yourself? Here are some tips:

1. Watch out for fake websites: Fraudsters often clone websites and dupe consumers into thinking they are shopping on a legitimate website. Be aware of the web address, look out for the pixelated images and ensure the website is functioning properly.
2. Only shop on secure websites: Hover your mouse over the URL and check the validity of the web address. You should look for a padlock symbol in the address bar and check that the URL begins with a ‘https://’ or ‘shttp://’. The ‘S’ indicates the web address has been encrypted and secured with an SSL certificate.
3. Use your credit card: Preferably use your credit card that requires OTP’s or SMS authentication proving the transaction is indeed yours allowing you to approve or decline it.
4. If the deal looks too good to be true, it probably is: Online trolls and fraudsters often try to catch consumers with overly attractive deals. Be vigilant of emails, social media posts and pop ups
5. Be aware of Phishing emails: Phishing is one of the most popular ways for criminals to steal your personal information and there is always a massive increase in these types of scams on Black Friday and Cyber Monday.