Online Shopping Tips
Overview
The internet age has made online shopping easier and more convenient for customers. Statistics also show that more and more people have suffered financial losses to online attacks by scammers. Below are essential online shopping tips that will keep you safe online.
Use Familiar Websites – Start at a trusted site rather than shopping with a search engine. Search results can be rigged to lead you astray, especially when you drift past the first few pages of links. If you know the site, chances are it’s less likely to be a rip off.
Look for the Lock – Never ever, ever buy anything online using your credit card from a site that doesn’t have SSL (secure sockets layer) encryption installed—at the very least. You’ll know if the site has SSL because the URL for the site will start with HTTPS:// (instead of just HTTP://). An icon of a locked padlock will appear, typically in the status bar at the bottom of your web browser, or right next to the URL in the address bar. It depends on your browser.
Don’t Tell All – No online shopping store needs your social security number or your birthday to do business. However, if crooks get them, combined with your credit card number for purchases, they can do a lot of damage. The more they know, the easier it is to steal your identity.
Check Statements – Don’t wait for your bill to come at the end of the month. Go online regularly during the holiday season and look at electronic statements for your credit card, debit card, and checking accounts. Make sure you don’t see any fraudulent charges, If you do see something wrong, pick up the phone to address the matter quickly.
Inoculate Your PC – Swindlers don’t just sit around waiting for you to give them data; sometimes they give you a little something extra to help things along. You need to protect against malware with regular updates to your anti-virus program.
Use Strong Passwords – Having uncrackable passwords has always been advisable, but this is even more important when banking and shopping online.
Avoid Public Terminals – Always avoid using a public computer to make purchases. If you do, just remember to log out every time you use a public terminal, even if you were just checking email.
