Sheriff offers advice for surviving Black Friday and Cyber Monday

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are just days away. As the excitement of the holiday shopping season builds, the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office offers some tips that will help everyone have a successful day, as long as they focus on personal safety.

Here are some tips to keep in mind before heading out to the stores:

First and foremost, stay alert. Do not get so caught up in the shopping frenzy that you lose awareness of your surroundings. Report suspicious activity to law enforcement or store security.

Severe winter weather is forecast for Black Friday. Use extra caution while driving, dress appropriately and be prepared for cold and icy conditions.

Avoid shopping alone; there is added safety when shopping with a companion.

- Always lock vehicles and keep valuables out of sight, preferably in the trunk or locked compartment.

- Before sunrise and after sunset, park and walk in well-lit areas. Stay alert to your surroundings. Take time to look around for possible suspicious persons, vehicles, and/or situations.

-When in crowded places, be alert for potential thieves. Don’t overload yourself with packages. Maintain visibility and mobility to avoid potential threats.

-Be wary of strangers approaching you for any reason. The holiday season is notorious for “con-artists” who may attempt to distract you with the intention of taking your money or belongings.

-When possible, avoid carrying large amount of cash and valuables, and avoid wearing expensive jewelry.

-When using the new “chip” credit cards, make sure they have not been left in the card reader before leaving the checkout counter.

-Keep close track of all your personal belongings and never leave them unattended.

-Keep a record of all your credit card numbers in a secure place at home.

-When shopping with children, keep a close eye on them at all times. Consider coaching them to go to a store clerk or security guard if they become separated and be sure they know their first and last name so they can advise someone who they are.

-Give children a contact phone number that they can carry on their person in case they do become lost.

-Expect an increase in pedestrian traffic and be aware of people walking in parking lots and on the streets, especially in low light and dark conditions.

-Consider high vehicle traffic areas as potential bottlenecks in your travels and use caution in those areas to avoid accidents.

-Never be in such a hurry for a deal that your driving endangers the lives of others. Slow down, stay alert, and be patient and consider the kindness of the season when dealing with other shoppers and drivers on the road.

-The growing popularity of Cyber Monday makes this an important time for shoppers to increase their awareness of the risks associated with shopping online.

“Great savings can often be obtained by shopping online,” Sergeant Dennis Carry of the Washoe County Sheriff’s Cyber Crimes Unit said. “But even when we take every precaution, the reality is we have no control over who holds that data on the other end.”

Sergeant Carry said that there is often no way for a consumer to know if data will be breached by a hacker once it is held in cyberspace. He offered the following cyber safety tips to help residents shop smart and stay safe online:

Read your credit card statements and bank statements as soon as you get them to make sure there are no unauthorized charges. If there is a discrepancy, report it immediately.

Always type a website address yourself or access it through trusted search engines.

Never click on an email link, taking you to a purchase site. The link may take you to a fraudulent site.

Don’t allow online sites to maintain your credit card information. Although it’s convenient, this is risky.

When having items shipped to your residence, make sure they are taken inside timely, preventing thieves from taking them or realizing nobody is home and potentially leaving yourself exposed to a burglary.

Whenever possible, use a credit card instead of debit card or check. Credit cards have an additional level of consumer protection in the event of a fraudulent purchase or disputed transactions.

If it just looks too good to be true, it probably is.