With all the credit card numbers flying around online for Cyber Monday, you can bet crooks are trying to grab some of them. Here are a few ways to avoid being scammed:

Avoid untrustworthy websites and pop-up screens. It’s best to use a major retail company’s official Web page—such as BestBuy.com or Walmart.com—instead of using online vendors that you don’t recognize. Instead of using other links to get to trusted sites, type web addresses into your browser yourself.  And if you suddenly get a pop-up trying to lure you into buying something, be wary. While most security software programs will alert you if you’re about to go to a known dangerous site, make sure this feature is available and turned on before shopping.

Avoid deals that are too good to be true. The most popular holiday gift items are used by cyber criminals as ploys to link people to malicious sites that could spread viruses or steal  information.

Beware of fake online charities. If you want to give to a charity, just make sure it’s legit first. The Federal Trade Commission provides tips for avoiding charity fraud ^[1], and the Better Business Bureau has a National Charity Report ^[2] that includes evaluations of many charities.

Stay away from dangerous mobile applications. Be cautious about downloading holiday shopping applications this year. In addition, it’s a good idea to install a mobile security product that offers a firewall to protect your personal details on your phone.

Read more at Fox News ^[3].