On Cyber Monday, Attorney General Ashley Moody has provided guidance to help Floridians steer clear of online shopping scams. As one of the most significant online shopping days, last year's Cyber Monday saw consumers spending approximately $12.4 billion, with a peak hour expenditure of about $15.7 million per minute between 10:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m.
Attorney General Ashley Moody stated, “Billions of dollars are being spent today as millions of Americans search the internet for online deals. To help better protect these consumers, we are releasing Cyber Monday shopping tips and resources. Taking a few simple steps can help you avoid scammers and cybercriminals who seek to exploit the online shopping frenzy.”
To aid in avoiding cyber scams, Attorney General Moody recommends several precautionary measures:
- Recognize that if a price seems too good to be true, it probably is.
- Verify the legitimacy of an online store by researching both the store's name and the product.
- Purchase only from reputable online retailers.
- Ensure anti-virus software is current.
- Use credit cards when shopping online for added consumer protection.
- Avoid public Wi-Fi when entering financial information.
Additionally, Attorney General Moody has released the 2024 Holiday Consumer Protection Guide. This guide offers advice on staying safe while purchasing gifts or donating to charities during the holiday season.
For further details on navigating this season securely, consult Scams at a Glance: ‘Tis the Season.