BBB Tip of the Week

Holiday shopping kicks into high gear in the upcoming weeks. As department stores, big-box stores and malls get crowded, pickpockets and thieves seize the opportunity to ply their unlawful trade.

Preparation and awareness are useful tools in your arsenal to thwart scammers, pickpockets and thieves. The Better Business Bureau offers the following tips to keep your wallet safe this holiday shopping season:

• Before shopping in public, plan ahead and only take the debit and credit cards you will need.

• When at a major sale, try your best to be aware of your surroundings. It is common to have tunnel vision on a deal. Thieves are counting on a lack of awareness in this environment.

• If you need to talk to your credit card company about a purchase while in the check-out line, try to be discreet. You never know who may be standing nearby, seizing the opportunity to jot down your personal information.

• When shopping online, only trust companies that have a good reputation for selling and delivering goods. And only share your payment and personal information on secure websites that start with https://. If you are asked to give credit card information over the phone, only do so if you’ve initiated the call. Spammers easily spoof caller ID to convince you that they are a legitimate company.

• Keep all receipts from your holiday purchases, and check your bank and credit card statements as soon as they are available. This will help you catch any fraudulent charges quickly, so you can call your bank or credit card provider to get them resolved as soon as possible.

If you have been the victim of identity theft or are worried about it, you might consider putting a freeze on your credit with the three credit bureaus to prevent thieves from opening new accounts in your name. Another option is to look into fraud alerts with the credit bureaus or directly with your credit card providers.

If you are the victim of theft of your property or identity, be sure to file a police report. You can report cybercrime to the Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov/complaint/.

For more tips you can trust, visit the BBB’s Consumer News and Opinion Blog at www.bbb.org/blog/ or call (509) 455-4200.

Erin T. Dodge, BBB editor