(WHAS11) - The holiday shopping season brings out more than shoppers, it brings out scammers too.
Online scammers are ready to play scrooge to try and steal your Christmas.
To keep crooks from taking your holiday cheer, make sure you're buying from a legitimate company.
If you're not familiar with the store, research it before you give it your credit card number.
Once you've placed your order, don't be fooled by e-mails phishing for more information.
"The best thing to do is not click on any links in that email, but instead directly contact the company through their website, through the contact information that they provide on their website to confirm that there really is a problem," says Alison Southwick of the Council of Better Business Bureaus.
Experts say to keep a close eye on your credit cards.
Don't wait for your monthly statement; go online several times a week to make sure there aren't any suspicious charges.
