Shopping tips for Cyber Monday ... and Cyber Everyday

Holiday shoppers don't need to push away from the pumpkin pie to snag Black Friday deals. And we don't need to wait until Cyber Monday to get many online specials, either.

Target, for example, is opening its doors at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving, but many of its Black Friday bargains will be available at Target.com on Thanksgiving before stores open.

Who needs to wait until the Monday after Thanksgiving to shop online? All of Walmart's Cyber Monday deals, for example, will be available for the first time ever as of 8 p.m. Eastern on Sunday.

Walmart says the earlier Cyber Monday start time is easier on young families that don't want to shop at midnight.

Yet plenty of people will, indeed, be shopping Monday morning. This year, roughly half of Millennials say they will shop online on Cyber Monday. Nearly 30% of those in the 45-to-54 age group also say they will shop online Monday, according to the National Retail Federation.

The term Cyber Monday celebrates its 10th anniversary of sorts this year, according to the National Retail Federation. But let's face it, shopping online is now a year-round activity.

Back in 2005, not many consumers had high-speed Internet access at home, according to the retail trade group. As a result, much holiday online shopping was done on the sly during work hours, so the retail industry then christened the Monday after Thanksgiving "Cyber Monday."

Consumers expect to spend 45% of their holiday budgets this year via e-commerce channels, according to a survey released by Javelin Strategy & Research. During the entire year, online and mobile commerce are expected to comprise 9% of total retail sales in 2015, up from 6% five years ago.

"You can literally do everything using your tablet or laptop from the comfort of your couch," said Michael Moeser, Javelin's Director of Payments.

More than 900 retailers are offering deals on CyberMonday.com, which is partially owned by Shop.org, the digital division of the National Retail Federation.

Cyber Monday promotions will include:

• Target is offering 15% off purchases at Target.com on Cyber Monday — the first site-wide discount at Target. 
• Sigma Beauty is offering a 20% site wide deal on Cyber Monday, according to FatWallet.com. 
• EBay is offering a GoPro Hero4 Action Camera for $299 on Cyber Monday, according to FatWallet. The camera was $399. 

What works when it comes to cyber shopping? Here's a look at three tips:

Watch how you shop online. 

Patti Otman, vice president of fraud services at Comerica Bank, said shoppers need to be especially careful of any unexpected pop-ups that they spot while shopping online.

Fake pop-ups can tell you that your computer is infected. Or maybe a fake pop-up offers what seems like some incredible deal. The best bet is to back out  and shut down the computer.

Do not click on links in emails, either.

"When in doubt, throw it out," Otman said.

Consumers also might want to consider using only one or two specific credit cards when shopping online as a way to more closely monitor any fraudulent credit card activity.

As you use your phone or computer tablet to shop, you might be more easily swayed by fraudsters who send out fake text alerts pretending to be from your bank or a well-known retailer.

Otman said fraudsters might send a text claiming that your debit card has been frozen and you need to provide bank account information now. Best bet: Contact your bank directly and do not respond to texts.

Don't forget about going online when you're in the store, too.

Yes, some retailers aren't thrilled when we comparison shop online right in the store. But it can be a savvy move that might save you enough money to cover lunch or an extra gift.

My niece found a festive dress for a holiday party at J.C. Penney in the store. The dress was on sale for $50, which was not bad. But she pulled out her smartphone and looked up the same dress on the J.C. Penney website and found it for $43.19. She showed the cashier the site and the price. The cashier  gave my niece the dress at the lower price — and let her use her 15% off coupon, too.

Pay attention to details when you shop online. 

The American Bankers Association notes that shoppers should keep computers and mobile devices up to date when it comes to having the latest security software. Always protect your home wireless network with a password.

Make sure any shopping websites use secure technology, too. When you're at the checkout screen, verify that the Web address begins with https, according to tips from the American Bankers Association. You can also check to see if a tiny locked padlock symbol appears on the page.

One trick that fraudsters regularly use is to send an email or a text to offer an "order confirmation." Again, the con artists know that consumers are shopping a lot online for the holidays.  So don't click on those order confirmation alerts either.

Don't forget that the counterfeiters know we're going to be shopping more online during the holidays, too.

Marlon V. Miller, special agent in charge Homeland Security Investigations in Detroit, said nowadays fraudulent Timberland boots, Coach handbags and NFL jerseys are not just sold on street corners.

"Things are going online," Miller said.

High-end items — such as MAC cosmetics, Michael Kors bags, and OtterBox cases for iPhones — have been seized by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Some items look real. Others, like some Coach wallets, wouldn't fool a true fashionista.

Internet websites, of course, can mimic what looks like a legitimate shopping site. So if a price sounds too good to be true when shopping on Cyber Monday, don't rush to hand over your credit card number.

Contact Susan Tompor: 313-222-8876 or stompor@