Cyber Monday Dos and Don'ts -- Savings Experiment

When it comes to holiday shopping, Cyber Monday has fast become a major retail event. Purchasing gifts over the internet allows you to avoid long lines and crazy parking lots, while you can easily compare prices on competitive sites. But before you checkout, keep a few key tips in mind to stay safe while you save.

Be wary of suspicious looking coupons. Hackers are known to disguise malware as coupons that look great, but are fake so you don't want to download them. Also make sure that the web address looks correct. For instance, if you're on Shopping.Target.com, you're not on Target.com. If you suspect that your account has been compromised, alert your credit card company and bank immediately.

Another way to make sure you're getting legitimate deals is to shop on aggregate sites. CyberMonday.com and Dealio.com have great reputations and will save you the hassle of comparing prices on your own.

This season, go ahead and use coupons, but be careful not to fall victim to a scam. Use social media for coupons and discounts, but know that they may not always be the best deals. Use shopping apps, but don't provide your personal info unless your browser is in secure mode.

Cyber Monday is a great time to cash in on savings, but nothing ruins the holidays faster than being hacked. Use these tips to shop safely.