A cybersecurity expert shares tips on how to avoid falling victim to online shopping scams

COLUMBIA, Missouri (KMIZ)

Experts are reminding consumers to remain vigilant when shopping online this holiday season.

According to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center, nearly 12,000 people fell victim to online shopping scams in 2022.
These reports included late payment and late delivery fraud cases that resulted in losses totaling more than $73 million. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency said this time of year is the best time for scammers.

“During the holidays, we all receive emails or text messages about deals you just can’t miss or opportunities to donate to charities you just don’t know about,” said Robert Graham, cybersecurity consultant and CISA cybersecurity coordinator for Missouri.

The KAG provides three steps that you must follow for safe online shopping. The first step is to protect your device’s information and accounts.

“We recommend that you update your software to ensure your devices are protected from the latest threats,” Graham said.

Using a strong password is another way to ward off scammers.

“At least 16 characters, random and unique to each account,” Graham said. “Use a password manager to generate, store, and then enter strong passwords for you, and then enable multi-factor authentication for any account that offers it.”

The second step is to recognize phishing attempts or dangerous downloads.

“Phishing is simply a technique designed to trick users into believing they are someone they are not,” Graham said. So they want you to click on that link so they can impersonate a reputable vendor or partner that you may have done business with.”

CISA’s third security tip is to shop with confidence. This means that you need to ensure how personal data is stored and used on a particular website.

“We want you to choose reputable providers that encrypt information,” Graham said.

Graham said scammers are getting better at posing as legitimate retailers.

Natelli Herrera, a student at the University of Missouri, said she often avoids shopping at less popular online retailers for this reason.

“I don’t really shop on sites that I think might be a scam or something like that,” Herrera said. “For my own safety, I’ll just stick with larger deals.”

CISA recommends taking a quick look at a website’s URL. Make sure the website address starts with “https” and not just “http”. The “s” ensures the encryption and verification of the site.

“Some of the techniques we recommend to all users are bad grammar in the email or checking the sender’s email address,” Graham said. “They (scammers) can impersonate a domain by using two Vs together to represent a W.”

Graham said you should check your accounts regularly for unauthorized charges.

Hererra said her family became afraid of scammers two years ago.

“My sister put her information into a website and it was actually this really cute sweater for Mizzou,” Herrera said. “He was online and then he never came and she had to close her bank account and stuff. “It was really scary but I think she learned her lesson.”

According to CISA, paying online with a credit card gives you better protection if fraudulent allegations are made. The Federal Trade Commission states that federal law limits the consumer’s liability for unauthorized charges to $50.