Billions of euros are spent every year on online shopping. Although most transactions go smoothly, the security of such purchases is not a given. These tips to buy safely online.
There are all kinds of options for online shopping. The offers are there. The selection is mind-boggling. Shopping is safe and secure. Deliveries are fast. Even returns are easy, with the right e-retailers. Shopping has never been easier or more convenient for consumers.
But what about the bad guys? It happens. The Internet Crime Complaint Centre itself says that the number one cybercrime in 2020 was related to online shopping: non-payment or non-delivery of purchased goods.
Keep calm. Although somewhat alarming, these statistics should not stop you from shopping online. Just use common sense and follow practical advice. These are the basic guidelines; use them and you can shop with confidence.
Here are some tips that you can apply to your online shopping for Cyber Monday, Christmas and in your day-to-day life.
1. Use well-known websites
Start with a trusted site. Search results can be rigged to lead you astray, especially if you go beyond the first few pages of links. If you know the site, it is less likely to be a scam.
We all know that Amazon.com has everything under the sun, and almost every major retailer has an online shop. Beware of misspellings or sites using a different top-level domain (.net instead of .com, for example): these are the oldest tricks. Yes, sales on these sites may look attractive, but this is how they trick you into providing your details.
2. Find the lock
Never buy anything online with your credit card from a site that does not have at least SSL (secure sockets layer) encryption installed. You will know if the site has SSL because the site’s URL will start with HTTPS, rather than just HTTP. A closed padlock icon will appear, usually to the left of the URL in the address bar or in the status bar below; it depends on your browser. HTTPS is now standard even on non-shopping sites, enough for Google Chrome to mark any page without the extra S as “not secure”. So a site without it should stand out even more.
3. Don't overshare
No online shopping e-commerce needs your Social Security number or date of birth to do business. However, if thieves get hold of them, as well as your credit card number, they can do a lot of damage. The more fraudsters know, the easier it is to steal your identity. As far as possible, please keep the amount of personal data as small as possible. Major websites are breached all the time.
4. Inline blur
No online shopping e-commerce needs your Social Security number or date of birth to do business. However, if thieves get hold of them, as well as your credit card number, they can do a lot of damage. The more fraudsters know, the easier it is to steal your identity. As far as possible, please keep the amount of personal data as small as possible. Major websites are breached all the time.
5. Create strong passwords
The vast majority only change the password to protect your privacy a few times a year or, more likely, never.
If you are going to be like the latter group, we would again insist that you make sure you use unbreakable passwords. It is never more important than when banking and shopping online.
Even your perfect password is not perfect. The smartest thing to do is to use a password manager that creates unbreakable passwords for you. This manager will take care of registering and entering them, so you don’t have to think about it.
6. Check account statements regularly
Don’t wait for your bill to arrive at the end of the month. Go online regularly, especially during the holiday season, to view electronic statements for your credit card, debit card and checking accounts. Look for any fraudulent charges, including those from payment sites such as PayPal and Venmo. (After all, there is more than one way to access your money).
You should definitely only buy online with a credit card. If your debit card is compromised, fraudsters have direct access to your bank funds. Any vendor who wants another type of payment, such as cash by wire, is a big red flag.
If you see that something is wrong, pick up the phone to solve the issue quickly. In the case of credit cards, pay the bill only when you know that all charges are correct. However, you have 30 days to notify the bank or card issuer of problems; after that, you may be liable for the charges anyway.
7. Protect your computer
Scammers don’t sit around waiting for you to give them your details; sometimes they give you a little something extra to make things easier. You should protect yourself against malware with regular updates of your anti-virus software. Better yet, pay for a full security suite, which will have anti-virus software, but will also combat spam, emails and phishing attacks from websites (the latter two of which attempt to steal your personal information by imitating a message or site that looks legitimate). Remember that it is not enough to have it installed. Make sure your anti-malware tools are always up to date. Otherwise, they can let any new threat – and there are always new threats – pass them by.
8. Avoid shopping in public
How about using your own laptop to shop while you’re out and about? It is one thing to hand over a credit card to be swiped at the checkout, but when you have to enter your credit card number, expiry date and the 3-digit code on the back at a shopping site while sitting in a public coffee shop, you are giving an eavesdropper over your shoulder plenty of time to see your details. Use sites that you trust and that already have your credit card stored.
9. Check the seller
If you don’t trust a website, don’t make a purchase. Check the company before giving your credit card number.
Don’t rely on Google or Yelp reviews either. They can often be manipulated. They can often be manipulated.a If you see nothing but positive comments and you can’t tell if the authors are legitimate customers, go with your instinct.
They can often be manipulated.a If you see nothing but positive comments and you can’t tell if the authors are legitimate customers, go with your instinct. If things go wrong, you have a place to take your complaint. In fact, call them before you place your order to clarify their return policy and where to go with any problems after your purchase.
10. Don't use your card, use your mobile
Paying for goods with your smartphone is quite common nowadays in physical shops, and in fact it is even safer than using your credit card. Using a mobile payment application such as Apple Pay generates a single-use authentication code for the purchase that no one else could steal and use. Plus, you avoid card thieves; what’s more, you don’t even need to carry your credit card with you if you only go to places that accept payments over the phone. How important is this if you are shopping online? Many phone apps now accept payment via Apple Pay and Google Pay. You only need your fingerprint, your face or your access code to do it instantly.
