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News and Press Releases

Nov 23, 2010

Holiday Shopping Online: Protect Yourself

Many Alaskans will do some of their holiday shopping on the Internet.

According to the National Retail Federation, 50.8 percent of Americans will make at least one holiday purchase online. But as consumers turn to the Internet to do their shopping so do the fraudsters with their scams. As the busy shopping weekend approaches, First National Bank Alaska suggests that consumers follow some simple steps to protect themselves while shopping online.

"Some people like to shop online because of the convenience and others like the exclusive sales available only on the Web. Whatever the reason, we all have to take steps to protect ourselves and our financial information," said Valerie Bale, First National's Vice President of Electronic Banking. "Don't let the spirit of the season get ruined by online fraud."

First National Bank Alaska offers the following tips:

  • If you're not sure, don't share. Anyone can set up a website these days so be sure you're familiar with the retailer's site before you give them any of your financial information. The Better Business Bureau has a list of about 70,000 safe websites. Check it out at: www.bbb.org/online/consumer/default.aspx.


  • Is the site secure? Look for the 's' in https:// and a small padlock near the upper or lower right corner of the screen before entering any payment information. According to First National Security Manager Don Krohn, the padlock should not appear in the browser itself --the white space where you type in the website address.


  • Know the terms of your purchase. Is the product returnable and if so, who pays the shipping fees? How long will the product take to ship? What does shipping cost? Read the fine print. If it's not clear or you don't agree, make the purchase elsewhere.


  • Print and Save. Be sure to print and save the transaction receipt, the order number, a customer service phone number, and any other information you can just in case there's a problem with your order.


  • Check the privacy policy. Find out what they're doing with your information by reading the privacy policy. If it's too complicated to read or they don't have one, choose to do business with a more consumer-friendly website.


  • TMI. Don't divulge too much information to anyone on the Internet. If a website is asking for your bank account number, social security number or driver's license number, don't share it.


  • Know your rights. If you suspect you are a victim of fraud, you can contact the Federal Trade Commission at: www.ftc.gov/complaint. You can also contact the Alaska Attorney General at: www.law.state.ak.us/. Be sure to report it to the Better Business Bureau, too.


    • For more information, visit www.FNBAlaska.com and click on the "Protect Against Fraud" link.

    Established in 1922, First National is Alaska's largest Alaskan-owned and operated bank, with ATMs and 30 branches in 18 communities throughout Alaska.

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    Contact: Marketing Department, (907) 777-3409