Internet shopping has had a big impact on many people’s lives. Busy families no longer have to fight the crowds in shopping centres or worry that meetings have run on and the shops will be shut; those with disabilities no longer have to rely on others to make simple day-to-day purchases, etc. The fact is that anyone who has a computer and an internet connection can buy pretty much everything they need at the click of a button, while still in their pajamas at any time of the day or night. But it is important to remember a few simple rules to make sure that you stay safe while internet shopping.
In an ideal world we would all stick to online merchants that we already know and trust, but with so many online stores competing for our business we can often find that a particular web shop that we have never used or heard of before is offering the best deal. Before you say ‘to hell with it’ and click the checkout button, take a moment to check out the company first. Look at the guarantees that they offer and what their return policy is. Put their name into consumer websites and see what information you can find on them. You may also find information and reviews on forums so they are worth a quick read too. Remember if in any doubt purchase your goods from someone else.
If you are happy with the company and want to continue your internet shopping, proceed to checkout and you will come to the payment screen. Before you input your credit or debit card details take a look at the screen for a moment to see how secure it is. The first thing to look for is the URL, which can be found at the very top and will always begin with https:// if you then see SSL then you can be assured that no one else can see the information that you enter other than the merchant that you are using for your internet shopping. SSL stands for “Secure Socket Layer” and means that the webpage is highly secured and safe to use. If you don’t find SSL then have a look at the bottom of the screen and see if you can spot a closed padlock or a key. Both of these also indicate that you are safe to continue.
Always use a credit or debit card that offers you coverage for purchases. Internet shopping should be covered in exactly the same way as if you were buying something from a store. It may be a good idea to check your card issuer’s policy before you make a purchase to ensure that you are fully covered, just in case. If you are unsure or do not like the idea of entering your card details then consider opening an account with payment gateways such as PayPal or GooglePay. These companies are governed by banking rules and they hold your information on your behalf. When you are internet shopping just pick that you want to pay by whoever you have an account with when you get to the checkout screen and they will complete the transaction on your behalf without the seller seeing any of your banking information.
About the author: Thomas Lively specializes in helping people protect their credit card and personal information while internet shopping (in Sweden we use the word internethandel).
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