Safe and Secure tips for the Holidays

December 22, 2016

As many are looking towards the holiday season, so too are the many scammers, hackers and others of criminal intent. According to A Secure Life, 1 in 20 people fall victim to identity theft and over $10 billion dollars have been lost to fraud. The Department of Homeland Security offers several tips and advice on how you can protect yourself while still enjoying the season.

Mobile online shopping makes up a significant portion of the holiday shopping market. For that reason, shoppers are susceptible to a multitude of risks, including credit card fraud and identity theft. It is important for consumers to adopt habits that protect them from potential scammers. For those who continue to shop at the mall, the DHS has a national campaign known as “If You See Something, Say Something,” in order to engage the community in domestic security. DHS has community partnerships all over the country, in which it trains state and local law enforcement to “recognize behaviors and indicators of terrorism and terrorism–related crime.”

Other safety concerns around the holidays include Christmas tree fires and “porch pirates,” or people who steal unattended packages from homes. According to a survey conducted by Princeton Research Associates International (PSRAI), 23 million Americans had their packages stolen from their homes during the 2015 holiday season. Thieves are taking advantage of the surge in delivered packages as online shopping increases in popularity. As for Christmas tree fires, most are caused by electrical problems or by a heat source being too close to a flammable object. By taking a few simple steps, you can work towards making your holiday season disaster-free.

Here are some tips to make your holidays more secure:

  1. Safeguard your mobile phone while shopping: keep off of public wifi, turn off your Bluetooth, make sure the websites you purchase from are credible and encrypted, and be sure to verify
  2. Consider using a credit card rather than a debit card, as credit cards are protected by the Fair Credit Billing Act.
  3. Unattended packages in front of one’s home are susceptible for porch pirates. Consider purchasing a locker, a Package Guard, a security camera, or utilizing the Doorman App.
  4. Avoid Christmas tree fires: turn off your lights before going to bed or leaving the house. Water live trees every day, or if using a fake tree, make sure it is coated with a fire retardant. Keep candles at least 12 inches away from trees or anything flammable.

For more information, please check out these resources:

Crowd Safety

Online Security

Home Safety

 

Posted in General News