subject: How To Shop Safely Online [print this page] Online shopping certainly boasts of convenience and a number of other attractive benefits, but it has generated its share of horror stories as well. In whatever transaction you enter into, whether leaving your comfort zone to buy stuff over the counter or staying in front of your PC to purchase things online, do not forget to observe precautionary measures.
The world is never perfect and although you wish to believe otherwise, there will always be some bad elements out there that are ready to wreak havoc on your security if you give them a chance to do so. For your protection, observe the following tips when paying for purchases online.
When shopping at well-known online stores, check out the URL (uniform resource locator). These stores should have their names on their URLs. An example of this would be http://www.amazon.com, this would be the URL for Amazon. If you're seeing additional text and characters on the URL in addition to just the name of the online store, you're viewing the masterpiece of some scam artists out there. Geography-related suffixes such as ".ca" for California, ".au" for Australia, etc. which are generally safe. But be vigilant for clones and dummies.
Look for visual indicators that the transaction you're about to enter into is secure. Common markers that are being used by legitimate online stores are padlock graphics, and a "verified secure" logo where you will be entering personal information like your credit card number or PayPal address. Also check to make sure that that padlock graphic that you are looking at is locked. Double check your security by clicking on both indicators. When clicking on these markers, a new window should open which would display security certificate details. If you find yourself satisfied and contented that these things are the real deal, then continue with your transaction.
Make sure to have a record of your transaction, but also ensure that you don't leave anything for people to gain access to your account by using them, or recylcing the information you have just entered. As an added security on both your part and their own, online stores usually require you to fill out a form requesting details about your complete name, address, and contact numbers apart from your credit card number.
It would also be a good idea for you to print the form you have just filled up so you have a copy of the transaction that you have just made. You can use this printout as a basis for your follow-up communication with the store. After you complete your transaction, exit the page by signing out, making sure that nobody has access to your account. If there isn't any, make sure to clear your cache of all traces of information that could be stolen from you.
Keep these three basic tips in mind when shopping and paying for stuff online. Do not let crooks and criminals get the chance to take advantage of you.
by: Jim Brown
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