FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) — The holiday season is a joyful time for many, but officials with the Clovis Police Department said cyber-attacks rise during the holidays. However, there are precautions shoppers can take to prevent getting scammed. The holiday season is a busy time for online shoppers searching through the internet for the perfect gift.  However, online scammers see it as an opportunity to take advantage of holiday shoppers. "You will get scam emails and to not click on those scam emails or open them because you want to make sure you know who the sender is and you don't want to be opening yourself up to a scam," Anthony Puente, Clovis Police Department corporal said.  Puente said each year shoppers are tricked into clicking on links that look like they are from well-known retail stores. "The most common one is people clicking on those links, clicking on those emails that are disguised in a way for you to believe that it is from a sender or from a specific person. And then once you open up those links, you are more susceptible to be scammed," Puente said.  He said there are ways to stay protected ahead of Cyber Monday. "Whenever you are shopping online, you want to make sure that the address and the address bar, there's a little lock symbol. And that lock symbol means that the website is secure, which means that it is a better and safer place for you to shop," Puente said. He also advised against using a debit card, but rather a credit card or gift card.  "You don't want to use a debit card because that is directly linked to your account and you don't want a scammer to access your funds," Puente said.  Puente also said to use a secure, private Wi-Fi when making online purchases this holiday season.  If scammed, contact local law enforcement.