The volume of individuals doing their shopping online continues to increase, especially during the holiday season. While online shopping may provide benefits for consumers, there are also risks that you must understand. Below are some tips to follow for a safe online shopping experience.
Ensure "pay online" transactions are secure:
1.Be sure "https" or "shttp" appears in the web site’s address bar when you are ready to provide payment information.
2.Look for logos from organizations that feature trusted or credential websites like BBBOnline, TRUSTe, or VeriSign.
3.Do not send financial payment or credit card information through email.
4.Do not provide bank account or Social Security numbers to complete an online transaction. Be wary of anyone who requests this type of information online.
5.Do not perform online transactions from a public computer or kiosk.
6.Do not use your browser to store password or credit card information.
7.Do not enter personal information in a pop-up screen. Legitimate companies, agencies and organizations don’t ask for personal information via pop-up screens.Understand the website’s "privacy policy."
Read the website’s privacy policy:
How will the company use your personal information? Be suspicious if a website’s privacy policy is nonexistent. Research and understand what the seller does with your private information. If you can’t find this information,shop at another website.
Use strong passwords:
When creating passwords for online accounts, use at least eight characters, with numbers, special characters, and upper and lower case letters whenever possible. Don’t use the same password for online shopping websites that you use for non-shopping web sites, or for computer programs on your local computer. Never use obvious passwords or share logins and passwords.
Check your credit card and bank statements regularly:
Check or reconcile your credit card and bank statements regularly. Immediately report any anomalies or transactions you didn’t make to your credit card company or bank.
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