WITH online shopping available 24/7 to consumers and one’s next purchase just a few clicks away, knowing how to shop safely is vital to avoid disappointment.
Listed below are a few things one needs to know before purchasing any item online.
Trust your gut
The same way you would not enter a shop at the mall that you do not recognise and seems a little ‘off’, don’t shop at stores online that give you a bad feeling and appear shady.
If at any time during the shopping or checkout process you feel the site is asking for too much personal information, just quit the transaction and leave the site.
Be extra careful if you are on a mobile device
Most phones are not equipped with anti-virus software that you have on your computer, so it’s easier for criminals to get malware on your mobile device that could help them steal information you enter.
The shortened URLs that are often used because they’re more phone-friendly can also trick you into visiting a risky site since it’s harder to tell whether it’s secure.
There’s also the risk of your phone being stolen, so make sure it’s password protected so any information you may have stored on it isn’t easily accessed.
Do not use public wi-fi to shop
Anytime you enter personal information using a public network, you’re setting yourself up for identity theft.
Most wi-fi hot spots don’t encrypt your data, so any hacker in your neighbourhood can basically just pluck your identity out of the air if he has the right software.
Check your credit card statement frequently
Using a credit card is really the only smart way to shop online.
If you buy something from a scam site using a debit card, check, or cash, there’s no way to get your money back.
If you use a credit card, the card companies have to reimburse you for fraudulent charges under the Fair Credit Billing Act.
Use a virtual credit card number
If you just have to have something on a site you’re unfamiliar with, there’s a neat little thing called a virtual credit card number that allows you to shop online without exposing your real account number.
Several banks offer these kinds of temporary credit card numbers that allow you to set the amount and time frame for a purchase and then send you a card number to use online.
Change your passwords regularly
If you really want to keep your information safe while you’re shopping via the internet, it’s essential to mix up your account passwords every three to six months.
Look for HTTPS in the URL rather than HTTP
One you really need to know if you’re going to make online purchases, though, is HTTPS.
The added ‘S’ means that the way your information is being sent is secure. HTTPS uses SSL, or Secure Sockets Layer, which encrypts the information flying through the wires so that only the intended recipient can see it.
If you’re considering buying from a site whose URL starts with HTTP, be careful with the information you share.
Don’t click on links in emails
Instead, type out the address in your browser to make sure you’re going to the site you think you’re visiting.
Many phishing scams involve emails from what seem like legitimate sites.
Check the company’s privacy policy
Reading the privacy policy is the only way to know for sure what a company does with users’ information and how it is transmitted.
Update your browser
Each new version of your internet browser, especially if you use one of the more popular browsers, receives a boost in security.
Older browsers, besides not working as well with some websites, often have holes in their security that hackers have discovered and can exploit.
The same goes for your operating system and anti-virus software.
Updates will keep you ahead of would-be identity thieves and keep your credit safe.
