Protect Yourself from Holiday Fraud This Season in Texas

October through December are prime gift-buying months, and the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) is urging the public to practice safe shopping when online.

DPS Tips for Safe Online Shopping

DPS offers some Cyber Safety Tips during the holiday season that can help protect your online identity and your bank account from fraudulent scammers looking to cheat some good people during a happy time of the year.

• Shop from trusted sources and look for secure websites
  • Always check for "https://" in the URL bar before paying
• Use unique passwords and avoid public, free Wi-Fi
• Monitor your bank accounts regularly, and keep an eye out for fake confirmation emails
• Don't trust random links
• If deals seem too good to be true, they might just be

Digital Wallets and Bank Notifications

DPS also encourages shoppers to consider using digital wallets like Apple Pay or Google Pay found on your smartphone. This can help mask your sensitive credit card details.

It's always important to keep track of your purchases and charges to your bank account, especially during the holiday season when scammers are on the rise.

You can always go into your settings on your banking app and set up notifications for transactions, transfers, and any other changes to your accounts.

A Texan Warning for Scammers

Jessica Ballew, chief information officer with DPS, reminded the public that with so much online shopping during October through December, scammers are more common than normal:

Scammers count on people being distracted, rushing to make purchases or simply losing track of what they've purchased from retailers.

Ballew goes on to stress the importance of taking the time to double check your payments and making sure the sites you are purchasing from are legitimate.

It only takes one click of a malicious link to compromise your personal data. Don't fall victim to these cyber crimes. You have more important things to worry about this season, like where you're going to hide from the in-laws when everyone comes over.