Marwan Forzley provides these tips for shopping safely this holiday season:

1. Be proactive, not reactive. Avoid becoming online shopping bait by checking and verifying all sites where you share sensitive personal and financial information.
2. Shop online the same way you shop in person. Be discriminating about how and when you share your personal data.
3. Consider your payment options at checkout. Turn to alternative payment options such as SECURE-eBill for cash-like transactions that safeguard your information, help monitor your cash flow and keep you from falling into the debt trap well into the New Year.
4. Shop the way you want to shop. Online, phone, catalog or in person, you can complete your purchases through whatever channel makes you feel most comfortable.
5. Check, check and double-check. Safe shopping requires vigilance on your part, too. Save all receipts and statements, and regularly review them for suspicious activity.
6. Shop early if you're shopping for kids. This will help you get those in-demand toys and gadgets, and save you from last-minute shopping rushes, late deliveries or the dreaded "out of stock" signs.
7. Give your teenagers the gift of independence. If your teenage children have their own bank accounts, help them learn money management this holiday season with SECURE-eBill. This removes their need to borrow your credit cards, while giving them the autonomy to shop with their own available funds. Plus, it's a great opportunity to sit down together, review the spending process and develop good habits early.