Shopping on the Internet is the ultimate in modern conveniences, but you need to be aware and stay safe when doing so. Here are some tips for keeping your online shopping experience a safe one.
- If you have never heard of a company and they do not have a phone number or address listed stay away. You can also search Google for “[company name] reviews” or “[company name] feedback” and see what you find. Just replace [company name] with the actual company name.
- Ensure that whenever you buy a product, you keep all your receipts. Print out your transaction details on the screen and save the emails the company gives you.
- Some card companies are offering temporary credit card numbers – check into this type of service as it changes card numbers each time a purchase is made.
- Look for symbols like the VeriSign logo or BBB logo for extra assurance. Ensure the lock on the bottom right corner of the website when you are entering your personal details. This ensures the company is working in cooperation with well-known companies, and is using a method to conceal your information.
- For extra assurance, particularly from companies you haven’t heard of before, you might look for those who take PayPal as a payment option. PayPal is a third-party payment process owned by eBay and makes it possible for you to pay without giving the individual merchants your payment information.
- Shopping online and using your credit card unfortunately leaves you open to hackers. Make sure you have virus protection software installed in your computer, as well as a firewall.
- If you’re unsure about a product purchase, check the company’s return policy and do some research to see if they honor that policy.
- Change your passwords monthly.
If you are careful, you can shop almost anywhere online as long as you keep these tips for keeping your online shopping experience a safe one in mind.
