With the increasing popularity of "Black Friday" sales in Canada, the Better Business Bureau is looking out for us as we look for some Pre-Christmas deals.

Many of us will hit the mall Friday, November 25, and the Bureau's Leah Brownridge says if you're brave enough to face the crowds, be careful of your personal space.

"You want to make sure that you're securing all your valuables. So, your cell phone, your wallet, your car keys, things like that. Make sure that you're keeping them securely stored in backpacks or purses with zippers or even a coat pocket with a zipper. Don't leave them in the back pocket of your jeans."

Brownridge says online "Black Friday" and "Cyber Monday" sales are gold mines for identity theft, and you need to protect yourself.

"Look at the top URL address of that website, and make sure that it starts with "https." And that "s" stands for "Secure." So you know that that page is going to be safe for you to enter in your credit card and financial information."

She says if you're at the mall and hauling around a bunch of packages, you're a target for thieves.

She says your best bet is to take your purchases back to your car, securing them out of sight, and then head back into the mall if you have more shopping to do.

Brownridge says if you're busy juggling packages and bags you're an easy target for pick-pockets who will be able to lift your wallet or purse while you're distracted.

Here's the list of 13 tips from the Better Business Bureau to simplify Black Friday shopping.

Be a savvy shopper both in stores and online this Black Friday with these BBB tips:

Shopping in the store:

Start your search with trust. Go to bbb.org to look for BBB Business Reviews of your favourite retailers.

Do not buy more than you can carry. Pickpockets are watching for shoppers bogged down with bags or who are busy with kids. Those who seem unaware of their surroundings make for easy targets for scammers looking to swipe your wallet or purchases.

Use bags, purses and backpacks with zippers. Secure your valuables by keeping them zipped up. Bags with flaps or open pouches may be convenient, but they're easily accessible to anyone.

Secure your phone and your wallet. Don't keep your valuables in your back pocket. Instead, keep them secure in an inside coat pocket or zipped bag. Also consider using a password protection on your phone. In case it is lost or stolen, your phone's content can't be accessed.

Wait until asked before taking out your credit card or check book.  A thief would love to shoulder surf to get your personal information. Secure your information until you are required to use it.
 
Always put your debit and credit cards back in your wallet. After each purchase, be sure to put your cards back securely in your wallet.. It's easy to become distracted or rushed while shopping and lose sight of your cards.

Online shopping:
 
Online shopping is a convenient option for consumers looking to avoid crowded malls this holiday season, but BBB warns there are cyber Grinches out there looking to take advantage of gift-givers.
 
Start your search with trust. Go to bbb.org to look for BBB Business Reviews of your favourite online retailers.

Look for "https". On the payment page, look for "https" at the beginning of the address (the "s" stands for "secure").

Look for legitimate logos. Scammers often use realistic looking logos from recognized and established retailers. Look for slight misspellings of business names, variations of logos or URLs to spot fake websites before making a purchase.

Contact the business directly. Verify payment/shipping/refund policies as well as their location by contacting the business directly before making your purchase.

Use a credit card. Never wire money to people or businesses you don't know. Instead pay with a credit card for added fraud protection. You can dispute charges if there are any unauthorized charges on the card, and many card issuers have zero-liability policies if someone steals and uses your card number. Check your credit card statement regularly for unauthorized charges.

Beware of phishing. Legitimate businesses do not send emails claiming problems with an order, account or a package to lure the buyer into revealing financial information. When in doubt, contact the business directly to confirm the issue.

Protect your computer. Install a firewall, anti-virus and anti-spyware software. Check for and install the latest updates and run virus scans regularly.

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