Shopping online is easy because you can shop around at a variety of stores within minutes. When buying online, you can find the best deals and get your orders delivered right to your doorstep without ever having to leave your own home comfort.
However, there are also other factors to consider when buying online. You’ll want to make sure that goods arrive on time, that things have a good warranty, and that there’s a way for you to return goods or get help with any concerns or problems that you have.
Online shopping can be secure, cost-effective, and safe, providing that you take certain precautions before buying. Since you are sharing your credit card details with these platforms, there are certain things that you should consider before you checkout.
Why You Need To Be Careful
There are countless justifications for buying online. The process is accessible, it’s fast, and with the right retailers, even making returns in a breeze. With the option of buying online, shopping has never been more convenient for consumers.
That being said, there are also a lot of malicious individuals who have taken advantage of the trend. Even the FBI’s Network Crime Report Center says that online shopping was the number one cyber-crime of 2017.
However, there are a variety of ways to ensure that you can ensure you have a safe and secure online shopping experience. To learn more about this, check out the tips below.
Only Order Stuff From A Safe Link
If your device is not secured against potentially malicious malware, there is a chance that your financial information and passwords will be compromised. In addition, everything else that you store on your device or do online could also be hacked.
The idea is very basic, but only a fraction of the US population properly guards their machines. Use a safe link to make sure that the firewall of your device is on.
When you buy online and using a wireless network, it needs to be secured so that anyone outside the house is unable to collect your information. If you are using a public system, don’t make any financial transactions.
This is because you do not know if the network is compromised or not.
Learn About The Merchant Before Making A Purchase
When you already know the brand, it is straightforward to just shop at their online store. When there is a question about the validity of a website, you can always stop in the local store for support.
If you know people who have had consistently positive online shop experiences with a particular store, you can be confident of the consistency of the service.
If you are unfamiliar with the store, you just need to take a few more precautions. There are various checks that check countries has to validate a website. Look for these markers before you choose to place an order.
Beware Of The “Too Good To Be True” Sales
Consumers are advised to look at a sale with a healthy dose of skepticism. When products are priced considerably lower than they should be, that should raise a flag about the web site’s credibility and authenticity.
Low prices are alluring, but when it seems too good to be true, that is usually the case.
Make Sure To Look For The Lock Icon
Never ever buy something online from a place that doesn’t have SSL (secure sockets layer) encryption enabled. You will know if the site has SSL, as the site’s URL will start with HTTPS, rather than just HTTP.
A locked padlock icon will appear in the address bar or the status bar below, usually to the left of the URL. However, this depends on the browser you are using.
Now, even on non-shopping pages, HTTPS is relatively common. In fact, Google Chrome flags any page without the extra S as “not safe.” So a site without it will stand out even more.
Look For The Customer Service Hotline
Secure online shopping sites are readily accessible via their toll-free customer support line or email address. It also best to read the refunds and exchange policy on the website before making a purchase.
Conclusion
No online shopping e-tailer needs your social security number or your birthday So, never give out this information. If thieves get it, and your credit card number, they can do a lot of harm.
The more scammers are aware of this, the easier it is to steal your identity. Try to give up as little personal data as possible. Even the most secure sites can be hacked.
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