black friday

With Black Friday, Cyber Monday and the winter holidays approaching, what do shoppers need to know in terms of crowds, safe online shopping and credit card security as the year’s biggest retail season approaches?

Black Friday may traditionally represent the start of holiday shopping, but this year expect to see crowds earlier in the season. Early holiday shopping is a continuing trend from last year when one in four shoppers purchased a Christmas gift before Halloween, and approximately 48 percent were done with holiday shopping before Cyber Monday.

While some holiday shoppers will have finished by Thanksgiving weekend, others prefer to do a majority of shopping online during Cyber Monday. This year, 44 percent of the average consumer’s shopping will be done online, according to the the National Retail Federation.

With that many people shopping online, is it safe to trust websites with sensitive information like addresses and credit card information?

It depends. It’s generally safer to use a credit card instead of a debit card when purchasing online or over the phone. Debit cards are directly linked to an account and credit cards are not, making credit cards less vulnerable to instances of fraud and cyber crimes online. Many credit card companies also offer more security features compared to debit cards.

Other ways to stay safe from fraud, identity theft and scams while shopping online this season include only purchasing from reputable brands and companies, frequently checking bank statements and being extra cautious with what information is shared online. For example, no company needs a social security number to process a purchase.

Retailers are also taking precautions when it comes to cybercrime. In the wake of major hacks at companies like Target and Home Depot in recent years, large companies are doing more to protect customers and themselves.

Thanks to new chip-technology credit and debit cards that offer a higher level of security for shoppers, many large companies are incorporating devices that work with these new cards to make stealing credit card information more difficult for hackers.

Merchants that don’t accommodate for chip technology at the register will be liable for any fraudulent activity.

Thanksgiving is the deadliest holiday of the year when it comes to drunk driving, according to Corso Law Group.

“Many people incorrectly assume that New Year’s Eve is responsible for the most drunk-driving deaths,” said John M. Rhude, Esq, of Corso Law Group. “In reality, Thanksgiving Day accounts for more fatalities related to DUIs than any other holiday. And because people don’t take it seriously, the fatality statistics continue to remain high.”

According to a 2009 Forbes magazine study, an average of 401 people die each year on New Year’s Day, the fifth worst holiday for drunk driving. The worst is Thanksgiving, with an average of 567 deaths each year. And a 2010 study from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration showed that year’s Thanksgiving holiday to be the most dangerous of the year.

Both Rhude and his founding law partner Christopher P. Corso, Esq. believe many people simply let their guard down during the long Thanksgiving weekend, with the day-long festivities encouraging them to not only drink more, but incorrectly assess how much alcohol they’ve consumed over the course of the holiday.

“And then after all of the meals, these same people get in their car and drive home,” he said. “And with Black Friday shopping sales beginning on Thanksgiving now, that puts a lot of families on the road with drunk drivers.”

Both lawyers know from experience the Arizona DUI arrests that can arise during the Thanksgiving weekend. Both attorneys previously prosecuted DUIs, DWIs and OUIs for the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office. Combined, Corso Law Group have handled more than 15,000 DUI cases as prosecutors and defense attorneys.

Arizona law requires that any person found guilty of drinking and driving (even a first offense) serve jail time. And DUI convictions can also include extensive fines up to $2,500, suspension of driving privileges and the installation of an ignition interlock device – even for first offenders.

“DUI is a serious offense and something that no person should take lightly,” Corso said. “When you’re armed with the facts, it makes it even more vital that you have a designated driver if you plan on drinking – especially on Thanksgiving.”