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Black Friday and Cyber Monday serve as the official kick off to the holiday season shopping because of the significant sales offered around the retail world. The National Retail Federation said that 164 million Americans plan to shop Thanksgiving weekend. With such high volumes of people in and out of stores on Black Friday, it is critical to take steps to protect yourself and your family from the risks involved.
Let's take a look at how you can stay safe from potential dangers and risks this Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
Choose your locations wisely
Malls, as well as massive department stores and retail giants, tend to be the most dangerous of all simply due to overcrowding. Trampling and fighting are most common when there are too many people trying to fit through the doors of a store, so simply be patient and wait until the crowd has subsided and it is safe to enter. If at all possible, wait to go to these types of locations until later in the day when they are less over-populated.
Keep your money safe
When in these highly populated and chaotic areas, it is best to be discreet with your cash and credit cards and stay aware of your surroundings. Save all of your holiday shopping receipts, even if you know you are not returning an item. Holding onto these receipts can prove useful in case something strange appears on your bank account or credit card statement.
The convenience of online shopping also offers the risk of scams. Make sure to check for “HTTPS://” in the site’s URL when online shopping. Only 52% of people check for this to see if the sites they are browsing are secure. Also, be wary of the influx of emails you receive during this time. Some may be malicious and have false links so it is safer to go directly to the retailer’s website instead. It is wise to monitor your credit card and bank accounts before, during and after the holiday shopping season.
Mind your vehicle
Your car – whether you’re in it or not – can be at risk on Black Friday. Follow these tips to keep your car, and your family, safe:
Happy shopping!
Let's take a look at how you can stay safe from potential dangers and risks this Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
Choose your locations wisely
Malls, as well as massive department stores and retail giants, tend to be the most dangerous of all simply due to overcrowding. Trampling and fighting are most common when there are too many people trying to fit through the doors of a store, so simply be patient and wait until the crowd has subsided and it is safe to enter. If at all possible, wait to go to these types of locations until later in the day when they are less over-populated.
Keep your money safe
When in these highly populated and chaotic areas, it is best to be discreet with your cash and credit cards and stay aware of your surroundings. Save all of your holiday shopping receipts, even if you know you are not returning an item. Holding onto these receipts can prove useful in case something strange appears on your bank account or credit card statement.
The convenience of online shopping also offers the risk of scams. Make sure to check for “HTTPS://” in the site’s URL when online shopping. Only 52% of people check for this to see if the sites they are browsing are secure. Also, be wary of the influx of emails you receive during this time. Some may be malicious and have false links so it is safer to go directly to the retailer’s website instead. It is wise to monitor your credit card and bank accounts before, during and after the holiday shopping season.
Mind your vehicle
Your car – whether you’re in it or not – can be at risk on Black Friday. Follow these tips to keep your car, and your family, safe:
- Never leave purchases in visible areas of the vehicle. Place them in the trunk, or on the floor space of the car.
- Pay attention to where you are parking, and keep your car in safe areas at all times.
- Be aware of cars cutting diagonally across lots, use turn signals at all times.
- Be especially mindful of other drivers on the road, and practice proper defensive driving techniques when in heavy traffic.
Happy shopping!
