It’s not a surprise that more and more people are transitioning to shopping online versus hopping in the car and heading out to the store. Online shopping sites provide a lot of great information on product images, videos, customer reviews, description and specs, and much more, which is all designed to simply and streamline the purchasing decision for consumers. Also, you can find a ton of deals and bargains online that you wouldn’t otherwise have found at brick & mortar stores. Most of the common sites that we all shop from include the essentials for consumers to ensure it’s a safe and secure experience but it’s critical that we follow a few best practices so that you’re not unpleasantly surprised that your credit card was charged for goods that you never received. These are just a few basic tips to follow so you can shop with confidence.
1. Use Sites That You Are Familiar With
You can’t go wrong by starting your online shopping experience with a website that you trust and is well known in the marketplace. These type of sites have a big following and have been around for many years. As long as you are double-checking the domain URL in your browser and ensure that you’re on the correct site, you shouldn’t have anything to worry about. However, know that are con-artists out there that try to mimic some of these top-rated online shopping sites by using a similar logo, theme and site structure. If something looks fishy, then chances are, there might be truth to it!
2. Check that the Site is Secure
A very simple way to check if you’re on a non-authentic shopping site is to check the URL in your browser and see if there is a little lock icon (see image below) which means it’s a 100% secure site or also known as SSL (secure sockets layer). Most browsers will flag whether or not the site is secure. Be rest assured that most legitimate online shopping sites today are secure but it’s worth doing some due diligence to make sure you’re good to go before proceeding.
3. Stick to the Essential Transaction Details
Another good rule of thumb to be aware of when shopping online is how much information you’re being asked to share to complete a transaction. Most authentic shopping sites will ask for your name, email address, billing/shipping address(es), phone number and method of payment (usually Credit Card or PayPal are typical options). Some merchant sites also give flexibility to pay by Venmo, Google Pay as well as Apple Pay. If you see these type of payment options, chances are good that you’re fine to proceed. However, be wary of sites that ask for too much personally identifiable information. That’s exactly how con-artists and thieves can access valuable information to potentially steal your identity and ruin your name. Exercise caution!
4. Use Strong Passwords
This is probably the easiest way for thieves to gain access to your online shopping accounts. If you use the same password across multiple sites including, but not limited to, your email account, top shopping sites, banking sites, etc., and your password mistakenly gets into the wrong hands, there’s a high chance that a hacker can easily try logging in using this password and order whatever they want, on your dime. A good tactic to use here is to change your passwords often and use a password manager to keep track of things for you. You also should consider creating random strong passwords that include variations of numbers and letters and at least 10 digits long.
5. Don’t Shop Online in Public Places
Consumers are more mobile than ever before and using their smartphones and laptops to make online purchases. Most coffee shops and shopping malls have free Wi-Fi that is super convenient but could also pose a risk to you if you’re not careful when you shop online. Credit cards by themselves are fairly secure and the card number isn’t the problem. It’s the combination of the card number plus expiration date and most importantly, the security code on the back that can put your security at risk. These days you can never be too careful with your credit card and potentially falling into the wrong hands. You also don’t want to be browsing and making purchases on expensive items while your potentially “friendly” neighbor at the coffee shop is checking out your screen. You can never be too careful and it’s best to leave these type of purchases for when you’re at home and on your own secure Wi-Fi network.
There are a lot more tips and best practices to ensure your safety when shopping online but these are some of the ones that I typically watch out for and remind myself so that I don’t get into a bind and put my personal details and safety at risk. Happy Safe Shopping!
Thanks,
– Simply Sal
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