It’s fun to shop online, but is it safe? Anyone can open an online store nowadays, and that includes all sorts of scammers, phishers and frauds.
There’s really nothing stopping a scammer from getting away with your hard earned cash, unless you follow our tips to shopping safely online!
1. Check for feedback
If you’re shopping at a less than well-known site (not Amazon, for example), always check for feedback. Do a quick search of the site’s name and see what people have to say about it. Try the keywords “[site name] feedback”. If you don’t see enough search results, try replacing “feedback” with “scam” and “review” and you might find some. Folks love posting their thoughts on the Internet, especially if they’re complaints. Scan those comments, and only buy from the site if they’re positive.
2. Use secure modes of payment
While most sites allow you to use your credit card directly, we don’t recommend that. Doing so means the web host now has a record of your credit card (security number included), and if they don’t run away with it, there’s always a risk of the server being hacked, and the data being let loose in the Internet.
Stick with PayPal. It may be a third-party, but it’s an internationally recognised brand that protects both buyers and sellers. Best of all, no one gets to view your credit card number.
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3. Make sure the site is secure
This might seem like a reiteration of the last point, but it’s better than that. Do you know the difference when a URL reads http:// as opposed to https://? The extra S in there stands for secure, and means no one can intercept the information you’re sending to the website.
If you absolutely must hand your credit card number over, make sure you’re doing so on a secure URL.
4. Always use credit
No, we don’t mean bankrupt yourself by living off credit. Use your credit card instead of your debit card for online purchases. If your information ever gets stolen, the thief will only be able to charge your credit card. Since credit cards let you spend money you don’t have, you’ll be able to do a chargeback via your bank and save yourself the loss. In contrast, losing a debit card means the thief will be able to withdraw the money directly from your account.
5. Trust your gut feel
Lots of things can be faked online, and that includes secure sites, login pages, and even feedback. At the end of the day, it’s important to trust your gut feeling. No matter how good a site or a person’s feedback is, there is always the risk of getting dealt a bad card. If a site looks bad to you, don’t risk it, no matter how good the discount is. There’s usually a voice in your head when you’re about to make the decision to buy, so heed it well!
Follow these tips and you’ll be sure of a safe, worry-free online shopping experience!
Do you have any other good tips for shopping safely online? Have you learned anything from your own online shopping experiences? Tell us in the comments!
