Helpful shopping safety tips to keep you protected

South Florida is known for not only its beaches but also for the great shopping opportunities. Thieves may take advantage of the high volume of customers in stores and online, to cash in on some common scams. The Miami-Dade Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources' Consumer and Neighborhood Protection Division would like share with you some simple tips to shop safely and protect your wallet during busier holiday times and year-round.

• Save store and online receipts. For online shopping, keep copies of your order number, the refund and return policies, shipping costs and warranties. Read more online shopping safety tips
• Do not carry a purse or wallet, if possible. Consider bringing a security travel pouch instead. If you do carry a wallet or purse, be aware of your surroundings, especially in crowded shopping areas, terminals, bus stops and other public places
• Have your I.D. with you. Always carry your driver's license or identification along with necessary cash, checks and/or a credit card you expect to use
• Less cash is better. Avoid carrying large amounts of cash and if you are going to carry cash, keep it in your front pocket
• Pay by credit card when possible. Credit cards have more security features than a debit card and if your credit card is compromised, at least your information is not directly linked to your bank account
• Protect yourself when using digital wallets. Although using digital payments such as Apple Pay, Google Wallet or Venmo can have added security benefits for your transactions, make sure you have strong device protection in place, such as facial recognition, passcode or fingerprint ID in case your phone or smart watch is lost or stolen
• Have credit card company phone numbers handy. If you discover that a credit card is missing, notify the credit card company as soon as possible. Don't assume that you misplaced the card and will find it later. Keep a record of all of your credit card numbers in a safe place at home.
• Beware of strangers. Con-artists may try various methods of distracting you, including working in teams, with the intention of taking your money or belongings
• Stay calm and alert. Recognize when you are rushed, distracted and stressed out, and stay alert to what is going on around you
• Read sale ads carefully. Some ads may say "quantities limited," "no rain checks" or "not available at all stores." Before you go shopping, call ahead to make sure the merchant has the item in stock. If you are shopping for a popular or hard-to-find item, ask the merchant if the item can be placed on hold
• Beware of offers that seem too good to be true. Sellers on social media, websites pretending to be legitimate retailers and in-person sellers may be a part of this scam. Too-good-to-be-true scams are on the rise during the holidays, where you often receive a counterfeit item or a product different from the one promised. Do your homework; research the seller; if the offer seems too good to be true, it probably is