Thanksgiving has yet to arrive but retail stores are already jockeying for our attention with slick advertisements to lure us into a shopping frenzy. But before you buy, remember that would-be criminals are watching and waiting.

According to the National Retail Federation,  consumer spending on the winter holidays is expected to reach a record $902 per person on average between Thanksgiving Day and Cyber Monday this year, with many of them spending a great deal of time shopping online.

That opens the window for possible cybercrime.

Cybercrime comes in various forms, all of which violate the privacy and peace of mind of victims. That’s why it’s important, particularly during peak shopping and travel periods, to be mindful and vigilant against it.

The Better Business Bureau offers these tips to help residents keep themselves protected.

— Keep a clean machine. Whether it is a PC, mobile device or laptop, make sure security software is current and up-to-date. Having the latest software on all devices can be one of the best defenses against viruses, malware and other online threats.

— Protect personal information. Shred all statements and applications you get in the mail that you don’t want to keep, including credit card applications, insurance forms, financial statements, health forms, and billing statements for utilities and phone service.

— Change passwords for all online accounts regularly. When changing your password, make it long, strong and unique, with a mix of upper and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols. By keeping various passwords on your accounts you lessen the risk of multiple accounts being compromised.

— Use credit cards whenever possible instead of debit cards.

— Steer clear of suspicious texts, emails and links. Unsolicited emails and pop-up ads can be full of computer viruses designed to steal usernames and passwords from your computer. Don’t give in to curiosity. Close or delete the message.

— Connect with care. Use caution when logging on to public Wi-Fi hotspots and send personal information only to websites that are fully encrypted.

—  Stay current. Keep pace with new ways to stay safe online. Check trusted websites for the latest information, and share with friends, family and colleagues to encourage them to be web-wise. You can find your BBB on Facebook or Twitter for the latest scam alerts and information.

±  Report it. If your identity has been stolen or compromised, contact one of the three credit bureaus to report the crime (Equifax at 1-888-378-4329, Experian at 1-888-397-3742, or TransUnion at 1-800-916-8800. Request that the credit bureau place a fraud alert on your credit report to prevent any further fraudulent activity from occurring.

You should also contact law enforcement to file a report. This also helps local authorities get the message out to others so they can be more aware.

These steps and others can help reduce the risk and provide added peace of mind this shopping season.