It is the time of year when everyone is trying to find the perfect gift via online shopping. While shopping from your favorite website is quick and convenient, it could make you a victim to online scams if not careful. Therefore, as cybercriminals grow bolder during the holiday season, now is the perfect time to double down on security by adhering to safe online shopping habits and safeguarding your personal and financial information.
To avoid online scams, USPS® asks you to follow these tips:
n Check for the padlock icon. Use secure websites with https:// and a closed padlock icon.
n Use a secure payment method. Using credit cards will provide more protection against theft than using debit cards. And make sure to monitor your statements or account for unauthorized charges.
n Shop trusted sites. When buying gifts or donating to a charity, verify the website’s legitimacy. Websites with misspellings, grammatical errors, or numeric addresses in the website domain could indicate the site is fake.
n Ignore popup prize and sales ads. These ads may offer you deals too good to be true and they can lead to fraudulent sites that steal your personal information.
n Slow down. Be suspicious of urgent messaging and requests to act fast.
n Don’t click on suspicious links. Don’t click on links from unsolicited emails or text messages.
n Report it. If you fall victim to a scam, immediately contact the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov/.
For more information about online scams, go to the Monthly Campaign page on Blue at blue.usps.gov/cyber/communications.htm#accordion1s10.
— Corporate Information Security Office,
Chief Information Security Officer, 12-11-25
