Tuesday, May 03, 2005 - - A few simple precautions go a long way in insuring that you shop safely online. Improving your understanding of technology and getting all the information you can about the retailer you are dealing with are the simplest ways to protect yourself from fraud.
Online shopping can be done safely. Don’t let the occasional news item about stolen credit card details scare you away. Chances are that the users in those cases did not take the necessary precautions while making purchases online.
The first thing to do when you decide to buy an item online is to check if you are on a secure website. An icon of a closed padlock at the bottom of your screen indicates that the site is secure. Another indication is the site’s address, which would begin with ‘https’ instead of ‘http’. This means any personal details you type – name, credit card information, address – will be encrypted or coded before being transmitted over the Internet. The data gets unscrambled only when it reaches the secure destination it is meant for. If you don’t see the icon indicating a secure web page, please do not give out personal information.
Sending your personal information by email is a strict no-no. Emails are rarely secure. They can be intercepted and the information in them circulated without your knowledge. Also never disclose your passwords to anyone. When creating passwords, try to avoid obvious numbers like your date of birth, address or part of your social security number.
Make sure you have sufficient information about the retailer. Don’t forget to check the contact details like postal address and telephone numbers. This proves invaluable if you have any doubts. There is no harm crosschecking if a business actually exists before you hand over your money. Also read the return policy, privacy policy, warranty information and any legal statements provided on the site.
When placing an order online, take printouts so that you have proof of the transaction. Take a print of the web page where you placed your order, the receipt and the email confirming the order. Do not forget to note down the number given to your order.
If you are an American citizen, using a credit or charge card for online purchases also helps protect you. That’s because the Fair Credit Billing Act covers the transaction. Under this law you can dispute suspect transactions. If it unauthorized use of your card is established, you are liable to pay only the first $50 of the charges.
To protect your privacy, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission advises that you do not disclose personal information unless you are absolutely sure of the credentials of the company you are dealing with. It recommends that you read the privacy policy companies generally post on their websites because that tells you whether they treat your information as confidential or if there is a possibility of them passing it on to others.
These tips for safety while shopping online come to you from Coupon hill, a virtual mega store that has top brands among its partners. Shopping online safely is assured when you buy through www.couponhill.com. Visit us today for the best online shopping experience.
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