Shopping Online This Holiday

It’s beginning to look at a lot like the perfect time for identity thieves to steal your personal information. If you’re shopping online this holiday season, here are three tips you can use to reduce your risk of identity theft while surfing and shopping.

1. Use a digital wallet service, like Google Pay or Apple Pay. When you make a purchase, the encryption system used by digital wallets replaces your actual card information with a one-time digital “token” so the store never sees your card number.

2. Connect through VPN. Virtual private networks, available on your mobile phone and home computer, encrypt your information into a code to prevent unauthorized use, keeping your information and transactions private.

3. Use virtual cards. Ask your card issuers if they offer virtual cards, which are temporary credit card numbers that replace your regular credit card credentials for a more secure shopping experience. Virtual cards provide added peace of mind since your actual credit card number remains safe if the virtual numbers are stolen.

Shop safely online this holiday and all year long with these tips. Want more support and advice? When you activate your free ProtectMyID® Essential plan powered by Experian®, you’ll get access to exclusive AAA member-only features, including Credit Monitoring your Experian credit report, Lost Wallet Protection, and 24-Hour Resolution support.

There’s a new identity theft victim every two seconds.¹

Activate your free plan today when you visit AAA.com/IDTheft

¹ 2019 Identity Fraud Study, Javelin Strategy & Research