- The coronavirus is changing

the way people shop for Christmas.

Many who usually go to the mall,

or to brick and mortar stores,

find themselves buying onlinefor the very first time.

That also makes them targetsfor online predators.

CBN's Medical Reporter, Lorie Johnson,

spoke with a crime prevention expert

about how you can avoidbeing ripped off by scammers

who want to take yourmoney and your identity.

- Go to the actual website,

start at a fresh screenfrom your computer.

So let's take Macy's,

if you get an email from Macy's,

that says Click Here to get30% off this holiday season,

well, that's great, butdon't click on the link.

What we want you to do is shut everything,

go to macys.com, the actualwebsite for the company,

make sure you see that S before that

semi-colon backslash backslashand then the company name.

Because that S says you'reon a secured website,

a verified website through the computer,

through your social media, I'm sorry,

through your online platforms.

And then you want to startthere to do your shopping.

There's a reason we saydon't start with an email,

because sometimes thoseemails are not even real.

They're phishing emails.

They look like an emailfrom a reputable company,

but what a scammer's doneis they've stolen a logo,

and when you click on that link,

it's gonna take you toanother company altogether.

So start at the original,from a clean slate.

And know that when you'reon those secured websites

you can enter a creditcard number in safely.

I'm still going to say, use acredit card not a debit card,

because the security, thesafety features of a credit card

surpass those of the debit card.

But once you're on that secure site,

don't be afraid to shop.

You are safe to do so.

But check your statements,

make sure your packages are delivered,

you got everything thatyou tried to purchase,

and be on top of it.

But it's safe to do it,many of us do it every day.

- [News Anchor] Now you cando that entire interview

by tuning into "HealthyLiving" this evening

at 8:30 Eastern on the CBN News Channel.