Online shopping has brought about a great convenience for those that do not want to go out of their homes just to check out the latest stuff. With more localized online shops, people do not have to worry too much about shipping costs either. However, this doesn’t mean that you can let your guard down even though the place where you are ordering from is near and legitimate.
Taking all the necessary precautions before spending your hard-earned money online will reward you with the product that you wanted without bumping into fraud or any form of scam. These tips will ensure that you have safe online shopping all the time.
Scan your System for Malware
Many forms of malware are there to annoy you and consume system resources. There might be others that are more lethal acting as key loggers that can obtain personal account information including your credit card information. Many of the top commercial anti-virus software including some freeware solutions can detect these key loggers. So be sure you have one installed and do a full scan before making any purchases.
Upgrade your Operating System and Browser
If you found some suspicious malware in your system, you might be wondering how the malware managed to get in there in the first place. Most likely it is due to a vulnerability within the computer system that the malware took advantage of. Check for updates in your operating system as patches are released to prevent these exploits. Do the same for your browser as well for an extra layer of security.
Carefully Look at the Site Address before Making any Transactions
The latest browsers include anti-phishing technologies that can detect fake shopping websites that do nothing but keep your details for malicious use. These anti-phishing technologies aren’t perfect and may not detect all sites. But if you have a good eye, you can tell immediately if the site is fake by looking at the address. Check the domain and make sure that the home page is the actual online store.
Read any Supplied Terms and Conditions
If you are buying an item from an individual or group, some terms and conditions may be laid out regarding any shipping policies, warranties and other important notes about the product. Not reading this important information may lead you to purchasing the wrong item. Some sellers may offer the same product, but different terms and conditions, so it always helps to read all the details.
Double Check your Shopping Cart or Order
After you added all of your desired products in the shopping cart, the common next step is to proceed to checking out and supplying the payment information and shipping details. Before you hit that “Send” button, double check all of the items to see if anything is missing and more importantly the costs of these items as well as any additions like shipping costs as some may be difficult to see. Calculate the amounts yourself and see if the numbers match.
Following these tips may slightly slow down your shopping experience, but the added safety is worth it because people have experienced bad shopping experiences in the past because they were not careful enough.
Get to know the merchant when shopping online
When shopping, be sure to gather as much information as you can about the merchant you will be dealing with. Check their reputation to see if they are a reliable source to purchase from. Look for internet rating services and directories that provide helpful information about merchants.
Is the site secure?
Most sites that are visited are very secure but yet there are those that you need to be aware of. Taking the right precautions and tips will ensure a complete and safe purchase. Let us start to see what protection there is when you are about to make that purchase. Is there a closed lock or unbroken key in your browser window? The site is not secure if the key is broken or the lock is open. Is there “https:” not “http” on the web address that ask for your password, credit card, or other personal information? Look for a pop-up box that says you are entering a secure area. Also, SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) are used on some sites.
Use different passwords
Prevent someone committing fraud by changing your passwords. A suggestion would be to change them every 2-3 months. For sites requiring sensitive information, create unique passwords different from what is used for other entries.
When you create your passwords, do not use personal words and numbers such as your phone number, your name, social security number, or address. Use a combination of letters and numbers. Be sure to remember the passwords and if you need to, write it down and keep them in a safe place where they cannot be found.
Beware of bogus emails
You may receive many clever emails imitating merchants, banks, or other companies that will ask for your personal information. You will be asked to verify your password, reestablish your accounts, or anything in order to get access to sensitive information. Do not click on their links nor answer the emails. If you have a question and have some concern, contact your trusted source to see the email is legitimate.
Real businesses do not ask for sensitive information such as your SSN or bank account numbers on the web. Stay updated with anti-virus and spam software for added protection.
Safeguard and protect
Take the time to investigate other ways that you can safeguard and secure protection when you are shopping online. Following these steps and more will greatly decrease the chances of being a victim of fraud and give you peace of mind when shopping.