When shopping from home tonight (Cyber Monday), beware of online scams and malware-ridden links. Here are some tips to use when shopping online:

Online Shopping Tips

• If the deal looks too good to be true, it probably is.
• Go right to the source. If you get an email, text or social media link to a coupon or store special, don’t click the link. Type the website into your browser.
• Look for https. Before you enter any credit card number, you should see https and a padlock on the website’s URL. This means the connection is encrypted.
• Lower prices can cost a lot. Knockoffs, stolen goods on auction sites or gray market merchandise (manufactured for other countries), may be cheaper, but the warranty will not be honored and may not be up to stringent US safety regulations.
• Classified ads can be risky. Merchandise could be stolen or not as promised.
• Use only a credit card or well-established online payment systems like PayPal. Most Credit Card companies have fraud protection.
• Lastly, check your credit card statement at the end of the day. Make sure it’s from a fresh browser session, not the browser session you were shopping with.

Use these tips for a safer online shopping experience this Holiday Season and throughout the year. Thank you to Oakland County, Deputy County Executive-CIO, Phil Bertolini, for providing these online shopping safety tips. Stay connected with Oakland County Government at www.oakgov.com, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.