Sponsored by Discover. With the holidays just around the corner, retailers are preparing for the busiest time of the year. According to a recent survey from Discover, shoppers plan to start buying gifts earlier this year. That research reveals that security and having the convenience to use a preferred payment method are top concerns that will influence their purchasing decisions. Judith McGuire, Senior Vice President of Global Products at Discover Global Network, joins our Laura Cavanaugh with tips to protect yourself from fraud and ensure a safe checkout experience this season. Merchants are bracing for a busy holiday season. Discover’s survey, along with 451 Research, highlights the importance of payment safety and security throughout this busy time of year. Merchants want to offer faster and more secure payment experiences for their customers. Meanwhile consumers want to pay the way they want to pay. Takeaways for merchants include supporting all preferred payment options. “They don’t want to risk a customer leaving because their card won’t be accepted,” said McGuire. “That’s why Discover is now accepted at 99% of the places that take cards in the U.S. Those merchants know that Discover cardholders are likely to be in their stores.” Another important option for merchants to contemplate is to support a contactless payment option. Research shows that nearly 40% of consumers prefer to use tap and go, which is fast, secure and convenient. “Unfortunately a lot of fraud has now moved to the online environment, where consumers are increasingly shopping,” said McGuire. Consumers can do their part to protect themselves. They need to be aware and cautious of where they’re shopping online and securing their payment credentials. Digital wallets have layers of security built in to ensure a safe transaction. To open up the wallet, you’ll need to authenticate yourself with a fingerprint, retinal scan or password. The good news is that Discover’s research shows that 7 out of 10 consumers are willing to take those extra security steps at checkout to ensure a safe experience. Learn more at www.discoverglobalnetwork.com