Shopping online does carry some risk, but so does shopping at brick-and-mortar stores. At least online shoppers don't need to worry about fender-benders in the parking lot, pick pockets at the mall, or getting the flu from all those fellow shoppers.But the nice thing about shopping online is that by following some basic guidelines you can be reasonably sure you'll have a safe experience.
1. Know your merchant
Study the merchant, from whom you are purchasing. Search for bad reviews from multiple sites. Where possible, shop only from reputed merchants.
2. Use Strong Passwords
We like to beat this dead horse about making sure to utilize uncrackable passwords, but it's never more important than when banking and shopping online. Our tips for creating a unique password can come in handy during a time of year when shopping around probably means creating new accounts on all sorts of e-commerce sites.1. Know your merchant
Study the merchant, from whom you are purchasing. Search for bad reviews from multiple sites. Where possible, shop only from reputed merchants.
2. Use Strong Passwords
3. Read Policies
- Privacy Policy - The policy should mention the information collected by the merchant, which and how information is going to be used and / or shared, various steps followed to maintain privacy of the shopper, etc
- .Delivery and Return policies – These should provide information onreturning unsatisfactory items, refund policy, contact details, etc. which are useful in-case you receive wrong / unsatisfactory item.
4. 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. When possible, default to giving up the least amount of information.
5. Avoid Public Terminals
Hopefully we don't have to tell you it's a bad idea to use a public computer to make purchases, but we still will. If you do, just remember to log out every time you use a public terminal, even if you were just checking email.What about using your own laptop to shop while you're out? It's one thing to hand over a credit card to get swiped at the checkout, but when you must enter the number and expiration date on a website while sitting in a public cafe, you're giving an over-the-shoulder snooper plenty of time to see the goods. At the very least, think like a gangster: Sit in the back, facing the door.
6. Check offers, charges and details of the product
Compare the quality and the price of selected products with products from other companies/ merchants. Having knowledge of the market rates of these items helpsin deciding what and where to buy from! 4. Secure Click Website - Ensure that the website is secure, i.e.the website should have ‘s’ in http. The payment website should be SSL site, where all the transactions are encrypted before they are sent to the merchant for further actions.Machine - should have various security updates to ensure that thieves cannot ‘break into’ your machine and get away with important information while you are shopping.
7. Use Credit Card
Credit card payments are generally more secure than debit cards. Also, most of the companies offer extended protection and warranties in case of thefts, using credit cards. If the intentional use of credit card by electronic thief can be proved, companies waiver off the charges completely. These warranties and securities are less for debit card transactions.
8. Sharing details
Only such information should be shared which are required at the time of financial transactions.Any other information like PAN Card number, etc., which is not essential for transactions, should not be shared. Internet passwords should be treated like ATM PINs.
9. Record transactions
This is one of the most important tip to be followed. Maintain hard copy recordsof all the purchases. The record should mention the date of purchase, time, quantity, price and the delivery date. This is helpful for further communication, in case the need arises. You should also maintain records of the URL of the merchant, confirmation email/message of purchase, etc.
Know the real price: Be sure you understand the actual cost of the item, including shipping, handling, and sales tax. That can have an enormous impact on the final price. Many merchants are offering free shipping during the holidays and some merchants that have both online physical stores will let you pick up the item in the store for free. In most states if you do business with a merchant that has a physical presence in your state, the merchant is required to collect state sales taxes. Although it's tough to enforce, some states expect you to self-report all of your online purchases and pay sales taxes when you file your state income tax return.
10. 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. We all know Amazon.com and that it carries everything under the sun; likewise, just about every major retail outlet has an online store, from Target to Best Buy to Home Depot. Beware of misspellings or sites using a different top-level domain (.net instead of .com, for example)—those are the oldest tricks in the book. Yes, the sales on these sites might look enticing, but that's how they trick you into giving up your info.
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. When possible, default to giving up the least amount of information.
5. Avoid Public Terminals
Hopefully we don't have to tell you it's a bad idea to use a public computer to make purchases, but we still will. If you do, just remember to log out every time you use a public terminal, even if you were just checking email.What about using your own laptop to shop while you're out? It's one thing to hand over a credit card to get swiped at the checkout, but when you must enter the number and expiration date on a website while sitting in a public cafe, you're giving an over-the-shoulder snooper plenty of time to see the goods. At the very least, think like a gangster: Sit in the back, facing the door.
6. Check offers, charges and details of the product
Compare the quality and the price of selected products with products from other companies/ merchants. Having knowledge of the market rates of these items helpsin deciding what and where to buy from! 4. Secure Click Website - Ensure that the website is secure, i.e.the website should have ‘s’ in http. The payment website should be SSL site, where all the transactions are encrypted before they are sent to the merchant for further actions.Machine - should have various security updates to ensure that thieves cannot ‘break into’ your machine and get away with important information while you are shopping.
7. Use Credit Card
Credit card payments are generally more secure than debit cards. Also, most of the companies offer extended protection and warranties in case of thefts, using credit cards. If the intentional use of credit card by electronic thief can be proved, companies waiver off the charges completely. These warranties and securities are less for debit card transactions.
8. Sharing details
Only such information should be shared which are required at the time of financial transactions.Any other information like PAN Card number, etc., which is not essential for transactions, should not be shared. Internet passwords should be treated like ATM PINs.
9. Record transactions
This is one of the most important tip to be followed. Maintain hard copy recordsof all the purchases. The record should mention the date of purchase, time, quantity, price and the delivery date. This is helpful for further communication, in case the need arises. You should also maintain records of the URL of the merchant, confirmation email/message of purchase, etc.
Know the real price: Be sure you understand the actual cost of the item, including shipping, handling, and sales tax. That can have an enormous impact on the final price. Many merchants are offering free shipping during the holidays and some merchants that have both online physical stores will let you pick up the item in the store for free. In most states if you do business with a merchant that has a physical presence in your state, the merchant is required to collect state sales taxes. Although it's tough to enforce, some states expect you to self-report all of your online purchases and pay sales taxes when you file your state income tax return.
10. 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. We all know Amazon.com and that it carries everything under the sun; likewise, just about every major retail outlet has an online store, from Target to Best Buy to Home Depot. Beware of misspellings or sites using a different top-level domain (.net instead of .com, for example)—those are the oldest tricks in the book. Yes, the sales on these sites might look enticing, but that's how they trick you into giving up your info.
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