7 ways to shop smart this Cyber Monday

Today is Cyber Monday and while you may think the main objective is to come away with great deals, what you should be focused on is protecting yourself.

Officer Deaton with the Hilliard Police Department spoke with NBC4i about how consumers can shop smart today.

Here are some of the highlights:

• Don’t click on website links in an email in case the emails are spam. Type in URLs by hand
• Avoid links that appear at the top of pages marked “Ad.” These links can be returned in a Google search
• Most retailers use .com websites so avoid .net sites
• Be weary of misspellings or grammar mistakes, those are sure signs of bogus sites
• Avoid public Wi-Fi as that is easier for hackers to target
• Use PayPal whenever possible rather than a credit or debit as it is a more secure way of purchasing online
• Keep an eye on your bank statement to make sure you were charged correctly for your purchases

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