Shopping online is a major convenience, especially around the holiday season, but it does carry some risks.
The Internet is always open and has nearly everything for sale. Of course, with convenience comes the need for caution. Cyberspace criminals have the potential to undertake scams quickly, leaving no paper trails and bypassing all geographic boundaries. Fortunately, there are ways to protect yourself and still enjoy shopping online. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) has a lot of advice for shoppers.
Personal Computer Protection
Before even getting started, make sure any computers being used for shopping are protected. Users leave cyber “footprints” wherever they go on the Internet, allowing sophisticated merchants to collect significant data on your potential interests and buying habits. So, clean out your browsers and temporary files often. Use virus protection software. Always use a secure browser that encrypts / scrambles personal or financial information. Look for the "lock" icon on the browser's status bar. It signals that information is secure during transmission.
Personal Protection
NEVER share passwords, personal information or social security numbers. When creating a password, avoid using established numbers, such as address, birth date, telephone, or Social Security numbers. If the site requires an account with a password, never use the same password used for other accounts or sites. And if something feels wrong, it probably is.
Fraudulent Websites
Scam ads are often brimming with excessive CAPITAL LETTERS, dollar $ign$ and !!!exclamation points!!! It’s also not uncommon for these ads to include misspellings or grammatical errors. Con artists hope that flashy e-mail ads will blind consumers.
On the other hand, don’t rely on a professional looking website as proof of a company’s quality. By using widely available tools which can easily copy or recreate digital graphics, a computer-literate cyberspace crook can build a website that looks strikingly similar to that of a legitimate online business. This bogus website lures unsuspecting consumers into various scams. Again, it’s important to independently verify the legitimacy of these sellers.
Phishing
If an e-mail is received that warns, with little to no notice, that an account will be shut down unless the billing information is reconfirmed, do not reply or click on the link in the e-mail. Instead, contact the company referenced in the e-mail using a telephone number or website address that is known to be genuine.
Research
One of the most important actions a shopper can take is to do business with reputable companies. If the site in question isn’t well known, investigate by opening a new search window and typing in the name of the company. Never click on icons within the site in question; they could be fraudulent. Don’t click on banner links or follow unsolicited sites.
Trying New Companies
If interested in trying a new online merchant, ask the company for its address and phone number so that its reliability can be checked out with consumer agencies. Start with a small, inexpensive purchase to see how the company handles the order. Find out about a company’s return and refund policies before you purchase. When the merchandise does arrive, check it promptly.
Use Credit Cards
Paying by credit card is the safest way to conduct an online transaction. Credit cards are protected by federal law; owners are not liable for false charges. If there is a problem with a merchant, credit card companies mediate the dispute and remove charges while doing so.
Persistence
No single action will protect buyers from all online shopping hazards. Instead, look at each precaution as a brick in a wall that will ultimately be very difficult to penetrate.
