Prairie State Wire

Comptroller Susana Mendoza has issued a set of guidelines for consumers to follow during the holiday shopping season to protect against scams, identity theft, and fraud. "That perfect present you picked out for a loved one may end up costing you dearly if you aren’t careful," she warned.

Mendoza advises shoppers to use secure networks when shopping online, recommending private networks over public Wi-Fi. She also suggests using URLs that begin with "HTTPS" for added security.

When it comes to payment methods, Mendoza points out that credit cards offer stronger fraud protection compared to debit cards. She notes that federal law limits consumer liabilities more with credit card use, making it easier to trace transactions and recover funds in case of theft or loss.

The Comptroller also advises against storing credit card numbers online as a precaution against fraud. Shoppers should be cautious about package delivery messages that might contain harmful links and instead verify changes through the shipper's official website.

Additionally, Mendoza stresses the importance of not giving personal information unless contact is initiated by the consumer. For those who fall victim to identity theft, she recommends filing a report with the Illinois Attorney General’s Office or the Federal Trade Commission and seeking fraud protection from credit bureaus like Experian, Equifax, or Transunion.

"Wherever you do your shopping," Mendoza adds, "just remember to think twice before making a big purchase, don’t fall for deals that seem too good to be true, and double check that websites are indeed legitimate."