Online Shopping Tips
The Western Weekender has asked me to do a selection of articles on topics of interest to their readers. Online shopping is becoming commonplace, with many online markets, including eBay, Amazon and tens of thousands of other websites. Here are some tips to keep you safe.
Here are some tips on things you can do, as well as what you should not do – to remain safe when doing online shopping.
Top 12 Tips for Online Shopping.
- Never pay by Debit Card. These are linked directly to your bank account. Once paid, there is almost no recourse. You are using your money, and the banks have little interest in protecting it.
- Do pay by Credit Card or payment services (PayPal). These have security defences, as you are using their money. You can report fraudulent use of your card and request a chargeback.
- Don’t shop using public WiFi; these are unsecured, and hackers can steal passwords and credit information. The same applies to public computers or internet cafes.
- Use a unique password when you create an account. Do not reuse an old password, and do not use a social media login such as Facebook.
- Make sure you are buying the correct item. Read the description carefully. Is it the right size and colour? Is it a counterfeit product? The internet is full of stories of people who do not read the description properly. For example, a person once bought a PlayStation box because he looked at the picture only.
- Check delivery dates and return policies. You don’t want to experience the disappointment of the gift not arriving or it arriving broken.
- Use secure shopping sites to ensure it has SSL (Secure Socket Layer) encryption. The website should start with https:// and have a padlock symbol in the toolbar.
- Research the company you plan to buy from, look for online reviews, phone them up, and look at the About Us or Contact web pages.
- Ensure you are on the correct site; there are many bogus sites with similar-sounding names.
- The only information a shopping site needs to know is your name, address and payment information. For any additional information, do not supply it.
- Check your bank statements vigilantly after purchasing online and notify the bank of any unusual activity.
- Ensure you have an up-to-date comprehensive antivirus/security package installed. Also, keep your computer software up to date.
Look at some of the helpful links listed below for more tips and tricks.
Helpful links
- ACCC Scam Watch: It lists the latest scams targeting Australia. It also allows you to report a scam.
- Fraud.Org : Another great resource to identify Fraud and scams.
- Better Business Bureau: Another great resource to identify Fraud and scams.
- Scam Watch : UK Version Of Scam Watch Site.
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Here at Nortec we understand the complexities surrounding technology. For more information or advice contact me on the form below or contact me Phone Line : (02) 9894 9514
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