Reterdeen Staff
These days, people no longer resort to the traditional ways of going to stores and malls to purchase items. This is due to the idea of online shopping.
Online shopping is very convenient because you can shop around, search for the best prices and have your package delivered to your doorstep without even leaving the comfort of your home.
However, we have some people that are still skeptical about the safety of online transactions because of numerous reports of fraud transactions, which has given online shopping a bad name.
Also, online shopping isn’t just about getting the products at a lower price. You’ll also want to make sure that your goods arrive on time, meet with the quality you expect, have a proper warranty and has the services of answering some questions and being returned in case it doesn’t meet with the required expectation.
Below are tips for shopping online without fear.
- Ensure you place orders from a secure connection
Is your computer protected from potentially malicious software? If no, then your financial information and password are at risk of being stolen.
When shopping online with a wireless network, it has to be encrypted so that someone cannot gain access to your information. Also, do not make financial transactions when using a public network.
- Shop at trusted sites
Most cases of fraud and identity theft occur because transactions are made on obscure shopping sites.
When shopping online, make sure that you use popular and trusted sites such as Amazon and eBay.
- Avoid public terminals
Do not use your laptop to shop in a public place. Entering your credit card number in a public place is running the risk of people viewing your transaction.
- Be discreet
Retailers will want to have some of your personal information such as name, address, age, contact, and credit card number. Do not give out any other personal details apart from these that will be useless for the transaction. Your identity can easily be stolen when you do so.
- Make sure that the site is secure
Check the web address of the page before entering your personal details or credit card information. It should begin with ‘https:’ and not ‘http.’ The ‘s’ shows that the site is secure and encrypted to protect your information.
- Protect your computer
To protect your computer from virus, install antivirus programmes. Avoid programmes such as Spyware and Malware, as they can have access to your information from your computer.
- Make your password unique
Before making a transaction, you will often be asked to create an account with a password. If you want to create an account on the site, make sure that the password is a strong and unique password.
- Avoid offers that seem too good to be true
If an e-store promises too much at a very low price, then there is something suspicious about the transaction. You have to consider whether the retailer came by the goods legally if the item will work, if you can return it back if it is delivered damaged and if you’ll ever receive the items.
This should be considered before going for an offer that seem too good to be true.
- Check your account statement
After making an online transaction, check your account balance to be sure that the money you paid for the purchase is the only amount deducted from your account. You can also call your credit card company and ask for your latest transaction to ensure that there are no suspicious transactions on your account.
- Always check the company’s shipping terms
We have some retailers that charge exorbitant shipping fees that can lead to you making a big mistake. Ensure that they provide tracking and insurance. Also, make sure that you know what carriers they use.
These tips will prevent you from being a victim of fraud and identity theft when transacting online.
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