While it's convenient to shop right from the comfort of your home, cybercriminals can more easily steal your personal information online. The following tips will help you avoid theft so that you can shop securely this holiday season!

• Check the address bar for typos and misspelled words, as these are signs that you are not on a legitimate website.

• Type the retailer’s website directly into your browser instead of clicking on the link in an email.

• Only enter your personal or credit card information on secure websites. You’ll be able to tell because the URL starts with https:// or there’s a padlock icon in the address bar.

• When shopping on a new online store, be sure to read reviews before purchasing. You can search for an online store by typing its name into a search engine.

• Do not click on ads that look suspicious, especially those that say “special offers.” You could end up with malware on your computer or it could be a link that takes you to a fake website.

• If in doubt, purchase items directly from a company's online store, not from third-party sellers.

• Avoid using debit cards whenever possible. Debit cards take money directly from your bank account; if fraud has been committed, you’ll have a much harder time getting your money back.

• Keep an eye on your credit report.

• Don’t let your computer automatically save website passwords.

• Turn on your browser’s pop-up blocker.

• Watch for email and phone phishing scams. A good rule of thumb is...when in doubt about an email being spam, just delete it.

Online shopping is a convenient way to check off everything on your holiday list this year. Just remember to be careful and protect your information so it's not used for fraud. Please call 608.441.6000 with any questions or concerns you might have.

What do you do if you see a discrepancy or suspect fraud on your bank account?

1. Contact ALL your financial institutions, not just the account that has the issue.
2. Have the financial institution freeze the fraudulent account(s).
3. Place a credit fraud alert on your credit report.
4. File a report with the Federal Trade Commission.
5. File a report with the police.
6. Continue to monitor ALL your other accounts for discrepancies.