< HOMEPAGE
|
![](..\..\..\header2.jpg)
Shopping Online - Keep it Safe
Everyone is talking about online shopping. It's easy and a lot
less hassle than a trip to the mall. It puts unbelievable choice
right at your fingertips. Despite the advantages, there are
certain things you do and don't do when it comes to your money
and your safety. Street smarts are the rule online and off when
it comes to safe shopping. Online that goes double.
Online shoppers, just like those in the physical world, know to
be aware of the neighborhood where they are shopping. They know
the reputations of the places where they do business. They watch
their wallets, and they know to be aware of who might be
scrutinizing them just a little too closely.
Do a little research. Anyone can build a website. If you
encounter an unfamiliar company where you want to shop, find out
who they are. Look for an address. Be wary of any company that
does not list one. An address is no guarantee, but you can use
it to check references with the Better Business Bureau, BBB.
Their online site at http://bbb.org/ has nationwide listings.
Sometimes you may want more information than the BBB provides.
In this case, after the BBB check, use your favorite search
engine and try an "about search." The difference in an "about
search," and just looking for the site, is that you already know
where the site is; now you want to find out what people are
saying about it. Generally, just putting "about" in front of the
company name will get you started.
For a very small purchase, you might want to dispense with all
this investigating. But do use a low limit credit card. That way
if anything does go awry, it isn't that far awry. Yes, we all
know about the $50 liability limit, but the low limit card can
be a hassle saver online.
You may choose not to use a debit card online at all. Many debit
cards do not offer the same protections against fraud as credit
card companies. You could be putting your whole bank account at
risk.
While you are at it, be sure to check out the return policy and
guarantee. Online and off, most good companies do accept
returns, either by providing a cash refund or product exchange.
Note, however, shipping costs are typically not refunded for
online purchases.
Online Security:
After you've found exactly what you have been looking for,
checked out the seller, and their return policy; the next thing
you need to do is make sure the site is secure. Secure means
your personal information is encrypted in transit to the
seller's server. This prevents unauthorized (hacker) access and
possible misuse of your credit information.
Examine the URL in the address bar. If the site is encrypted you
will see an "s" directly after the http - like https://. The
whole site will not be encrypted, but the order page for the
transaction should be.
Other things to look for - depending on your browser, you may
see either an open or a closed padlock, or a whole or broken
key. If the key is broken or the lock open, you should assume
that the site is not encrypted.
Sometimes security issues get tricky. Suppose you personally
know the owner, it is a solid local business, but there is no
encryption system in place and they expect you to transmit your
credit information online. With small businesses, this is most
often a case of not knowing better, that does not, however, mean
that you do not. In cases like this, look for a phone number and
call in your order. If there is no phone number and no mailing
address, you should seriously consider whether you want to risk
an unsecured transaction.
Common sense is the rule online and off. Guard your personal
information, including Social Security Number, bank account
information and passwords. No reputable merchant has a need for
your Social Security Number and it is not standard policy to ask
for it when you buy your groceries for instance. Requiring this
for a routine purchase should send up a red flag. You should
immediately take your business elsewhere. Some will do whatever
they can think of, in all kinds of official looking ways, to get
you to provide private personal information. If you call, they
may personally assure you that they do indeed need your bank
account and password to sell you that CD. No way, just because
it looks good, and they sound sincere, doesn't mean that it is
or they are, and you may not know there was ever a problem until
you see your credit report.
The last big rule is to keep copies of everything. Print out the
pages with the description and prices of items you order. Print
out your credit card receipt. Most companies will email you a
copy as well. Keep that too, and make sure it matches your
online information.
And remember, online and off, if it looks too good to be true,
it probably is. Don't let the heat of the offer lull you into
abandoning your good common sense. Of course, you could miss the
deal of a lifetime, and that is exactly what the unscrupulous
want you to think. Likely as not, online and off - if it sounds
too good to be true, it probably is.
Shopping the net is destined to change the way we do business,
but it is still a new frontier, with many of the uncertainties
that go with it. The only way to really be secure online is to
develop your street smarts and sometimes, that may not be
enough. It will certainly level the field though, and by keeping
your cyber smarts well honed, you should be able to safely shop
the net.
Copyright 2005 Regina Pickett Garson
About the author:
Regina Pickett Garson teaches at Virginia College in Huntsville,
Alabama. For more about online shopping, you can visit her
website at
http://lafindz.tripod.com
Written by: Regina Pickett Garson
< Back To shopping Next   Previous
|