Holiday cheer is here, and more and more, consumers are choosing online shopping for their gift-buying needs. While online ordering is fast and convenient, there are also added risks to keep in mind as scam and fraud activity tends to increase around holidays.

Our list of DO’s and DON’Ts to keep in mind…

DO: Monitor your bank accounts closely and keep track of what you’re purchasing this holiday season. Whether you’re paying with your Camden National Bank chip card or our digital payment technology, we have 24/7 fraud monitoring looking for anything out of the ordinary so you can shop easy.

DON’T: Ignore updates on your laptop, phone, tablet, apps, etc.! Patches and updates help protect your device and personal information—it’s always smart to keep up with the latest updates.

DO: Review your passwords to confirm they’re unique and strong (learn more here!). For the highest security, keep your list of passwords saved in a “password vault” instead of writing them down (learn more here).

DON’T: Autofill your passwords or credit card information on retail websites, where it may be more vulnerable to data breaches and cyber-thieves.

DO: Shop from retailers you know and trust. When you make an online purchase, only use the checkout directly from the retailer’s official website. Be careful about the apps you download—scammers can lace illegitimate shopping apps with malicious software. We recommend only downloading apps from stores like Google Play, the App Store, Galaxy Apps, and Amazon App Store. 

DON’T: Give your social security number to a retailer – shopping stores don’t need this sensitive personal information. If you call the customer service line, and they insist, we recommend you shop from another store instead to be safe.

DO: Set up personalized text/email alerts so you’re notified if purchases over a certain amount have been made using your Camden National Bank card.

DON’T: Make purchases using public Wi-Fi. Many people don’t realize that public Wi-Fi networks (at coffee shops, hotels, etc.) are more vulnerable to hackers who can intercept data like your name, address, and credit card information when you make a purchase.

DO: Ship packages to a secure location. If you won’t be home to receive your delivery, consider having your order held at UPS or FedEx, or ship it to your office instead.

DON’T: Be fooled by email scams which tend to pick up around the holidays. It might by temping to click on an extra-compelling offer from an unfamiliar business or retailer, but fraudsters use these kinds of email offers to infect your computer with viruses and malware. To be safe, delete the email, don’t click on any links, and don’t open attachments.

Lastly… It’s important to act quickly if you detect fraud or identity theft. Contact us 24/7 at 800-860-8821, and we’re here to help.