Tips for Safe Online Shopping from OnPoint Community Credit Union

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Oct 31, 2017, 13:43 ET

PORTLAND, Ore., Oct. 31, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- As Cyber Security Awareness Month comes to a close and the holiday shopping season approaches, OnPoint Community Credit Union offers simple tips for safer online shopping. According to recent studies published by the Pew Research Center, 51 percent of US adults bank online, and eight in 10 Americans are online shoppers. Just as online shopping and banking is on the rise, so is online fraud as cyber criminals target online shoppers.

"The holiday shopping season is an opportunity to be reminded—and to encourage our friends and family members—to take a few simple steps to protect against cyber criminals and strengthen the security of information and accounts," said Steve Owen, Senior Vice President and Chief Operations Officer of OnPoint.

The Department of Homeland Security Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) has identified three common ways attackers target online shoppers:

Using fake websites and emails to get shoppers to share account information – attackers pose as legitimate retailers, or pretend to be a charity, especially during the holidays or after a natural disaster
Intercepting insecure transactions– If a retailer does not use encryption, attackers may be able to intercept your information during a transaction
Targeting vulnerable computers – If your computer is not protected, it is vulnerable to being accessed by an attacker who may be able to view your information

There are simple precautions any online shopper can take to help protect against attackers and fraud. In OnPoint's latest blog post, the company shares tips for staying safe online. Here are just a few:

Use a credit card in lieu of a debit card. If a fraudulent transaction takes place on your credit card, at least the funds won't automatically be pulled from your checking account while you are settling the dispute. You can also protect yourself by only shopping on sites with HTTPS and a padlock icon to the left or right of the URL. The 's' at the end of HTTPS stands for secure, and ensures all communication between your browser and the web is encrypted.
Be proactive. Routinely check all of your financial statements and history for suspicious or questionable charges. Contact your financial institution immediately if you find unauthorized activity on your accounts.
Don't open attachments or click on URLs in unsolicited emails from vendors and people you don't know. These may be phishing scams that contain links that will download malware on your computer or lure you into entering personal information. Be aware, the email may even appear to be from someone you know, but may look or sound suspicious.
Use strong passwords, and do not use the same passwords for multiple websites. Consider increasing the complexity of passwords or use phrases, and regularly change passwords for added security.
Most importantly, think before you click. If something seems off, it likely will require a little investigation before clicking the link or message. Resist the urge to respond to enticing subject lines that sound too good to be true. Stay alert and take protective measures to ensure online safety and security.

Two reputable sources for information on protecting your accounts, information and identity from online attackers include:

The National Cyber Security Alliance at www.StaySafeOnline.org and
The Department of Homeland Security Cyber Emergency Readiness Team www.US-Cert.gov

ABOUT ONPOINT COMMUNITY CREDIT UNION
OnPoint Community Credit Union is the largest credit union in Oregon, serving more than 331,000 members and with assets of $4.9 billion. Founded in 1932, OnPoint Community Credit Union's membership is available to anyone who lives or works in one of 13 Oregon counties (Benton, Clackamas, Columbia, Crook, Deschutes, Jefferson, Lane, Linn, Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Washington and Yamhill) and two Washington counties (Skamania and Clark) and their immediate family members. More information is available at www.onpointcu.com or 503-228-7077 or 800-527-3932.