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If you use only

one credit card

for all your

online

purchases it • Consider
obtaining a
will make it credit card that

CCSO advises shoppers to shop during daylight hours when possible this holiday easier for you you use only
season. Photo by Cpl. Efrain Hernandez/CCSO to track them when shopping
online to easily
• Leave a radio or television on so the house looks and sounds occupied. and identify keep track
• Call the Sheriff ’s Office and set up an extra protection while you are out of any fraudulent of all your
town. purchases.
• Schedule a free home security survey by calling CCSO’s Crime Prevention transactions. • If possible,
Bureau at 239.252.0700, or at prevention@colliersheriff.org. call in your

VEHICLE SAFETY: order.

• Lock your vehicle when you leave it. • Notify the
• If you have an alarm system on your vehicle, use it.

• Park in a high visibility area with good lighting.

issuer if your credit card is lost or stolen.
• Remove valuables from your vehicle as soon as you reach your destination.
That flat-screen TV and iPhone you received are
ONLINE AND SAFE IDENTITY
great, but remember they were meant for you and
• Never give out your Social Security number! Reputable online merchants
should never require you to to submit your Social Security number. not some thief. Your holiday won’t be a happy one if
• Only shop using secure websites. Most websites will have a pop up screen
indicating that they have a security certificate, a "lock" should also appear in you become the victim of a crime.
the bottom corner of your browser window. Use only reputable websites that
you are familiar with. If you are in doubt, don't order. CCSO OFFERS THESE TIPS TO KEEP
• Check out the merchant's privacy and security policies. Some merchants ask YOUR HOLIDAY GIFTS SECURE:
for personal information to sell to other merchants, direct marketers, and even
telemarketers. Read their online privacy and security polices so that you know • As soon as you receive that special gift, mark it
where your information is going. Some merchants will allow you to opt out of with your driver’s license number. If it cannot be
giving this information. marked, take color pictures or video. And record the
• Use the same credit card when making all online purchases. If you use only serial number and put it away for safe keeping.
one credit card for all your online purchases it will make it easier for you to • Consider putting valuable gifts such as jewelry
track them and identify any fraudulent transactions. on layaway and leaving them in the store until just
• Use companies you know. before Christmas.
• When making purchases online, make sure the website you are using is • Be careful about discussing any valuable gifts you
secured with “https://www...” in the URL and make certain the padlock received with strangers.
symbol is on the bottom of your browser. • Be careful about the after-Christmas garbage you
• Read the company’s privacy statement carefully. Will they sell your personal put out for pickup. Put smaller waste in a black trash
information to other companies? bag and break down all the bigger boxes and turn
• Trust your instincts. If something doesn’t seem right, then it probably isn’t. them inside out so the labels cannot be seen.
• Limit the amount of personal information you give out and print all online • Do not leave opened valuable gifts under the tree,
receipts. especially if the tree is in front of a window where
they can be easily seen from the outside.

For more holiday shopping safety information,
visit the Collier County Sheriff ’s Office website
at www.colliersheriff.org, or visit the CCSO
YouTube channel to watch one of the agency’s
holiday safety videos.

Life in Naples | November 2016 97