As we gear up for the holidays 44% of us will shop online.  And that means the crooks are ready for their shopping season as well.  ID theft is a billion dollar problem in this country and the more we give out our financial information the easier it is for thieves to steal our money.   20 consumer groups are getting together this week to teach consumers how to outsmart the bad guys.  As part of the program Better Business Bureaus around the country are offering to shred your financial information and CD’s for free   on October 17^th free on-site document shredding.

The BBB also offers tips on online shopping for this upcoming holiday season:

• Confirm the legitimacy of all “trust marks.”  You can confirm that certification from organizations such as from BBB, Versign or TRUSTe is legitimate by clicking on the seal. A legitimate seal will direct you to the certifying organization’s web site.
• Make online purchases with a credit card. If your credit card number land in the hands of ID thieves, you can dispute the charges with your credit card company.
• Only shop on a secured site. Always look in the address box for the “s” in https:// and in the lower-right corner for the “lock” symbol before paying. If there are any doubts about a site, BBB recommends right-clicking anywhere on the page and select “Properties.” This will let you see the real URL (Web site address) and the dialog box will reveal if the site is not encrypted.

 And when you are shopping at a retailer…here’s what you need to know:

• Prevent pick pocketing. Keep your purse tucked securely under their arm and don’t keep your wallet in a back pocket.  Don’t allow yourself to be bogged down by too many shopping bags.
• Keep receipts in your wallet. Retailers are required to not reveal more than the last four digits of the credit or debit card used to make the purchase but it is still a good idea to keep all the receipt together in safe place rather than in the bag.
• Review your credit card statement regularly. Check your credit card activity weekly during the holiday season—rather than waiting for the statement at the end of the month—in order to catch suspicious charges as quickly as possible.