Essential Guidelines for Shopping Online with Safety

Online shopping can be convenient, cost-efficient, and safe—provided you take specific precautions before making your purchase. It can be so much fun: You find a shiny object you love, click the “buy” button, and get the order delivered to your door. But these transactions don’t always go so smoothly.

Police and cyber security department in New Zealand recently has had more complaints about consumers not receiving goods purchased online. Many of the buyers fell for “deals” advertised on social media or search engine shopping pages. They either got nothing or received a random item like a box of disposable facemasks that could be returned only by paying a high international shipping charge. These cyber scammers can really suck the joy out of shopping.

To prevent cyber criminals from pilfering bank account information, credit card details or log-in credentials, this article offers these recommendations for safe online shopping. Let's check out our online shopping safety tips so you can avoid becoming their latest victim.

·         Only Trust Encrypted Websites

Not all e-commerce sites provide the ideal conditions for safe online shopping. It’s important to limit your shopping to websites that are encrypted, and only conduct transactions when you’re on a trusted Wi-Fi network. Look for a padlock symbol on URL bar, as well as next to your Wi-Fi network’s name. Following these steps is the best method to ensure that your personal information is being transferred in the safest way possible. Avoid shopping on sites that you’ve never heard of or offer the best deals on Indian stores that seem too good to be true. Obscure sites selling heavily discounted merchandise could be fraudulent and steal your credit or debit card information if you enter these details.

 

·         Look for the ‘S’

Any time you input personal or card details into a website, ensure the page is secured. The website URL should begin with https:// (rather than http://) and there should be a padlock icon to the left of the URL. The “S” stands for secure and specifies that all communication between your browser and the site is encrypted.

 

·         Be Wary of Dream Deals or

Cyber security specialists warns consumers to regard sale-of-the-century price tags with a healthy dose of skepticism. When items are priced significantly lesser than they should be, that should raise a flag about the legitimacy and authenticity of the website. Low prices are always enticing, but if it’s too good to be true, it usually is.

 

·         Shop With Reputable Retailers

It’s considered best to shop directly with online retailers you know and trust. Bookmark your favorite shopping websites to get there quickly and safely. Avoid typing the name of the retailer in your browser bar. That’s because a tiny typo could land you on a fake site that looks just like the real one. Make a “purchase” on illegitimate site and you may unwittingly hand the scammers your credit card number and other personal info. Perform your own background check by looking at sites dedicated to reviewing e-stores. If the store isn’t reviewed or does not have favorable reviews, don’t order from their website.

 

·         Don’t Click on Untrusted Pop-up Ads

While it’s general practice for retailers to use pop-up ads for e-newsletters, promotions, and flyers, best Deals on Indian business in New Zealand, however, consumers should always keep an eye out for phishing scams. Pesky pop-ups are techniques for scammers to lure or confuse shoppers. Just make sure to have an ad-blocker installed when shopping on unfamiliar websites to avoid getting phished.

 

·         Don’t use Free, Public Wi-Fi Networks

Use your smartphone as a hotspot to connect your laptop to the Web instead of using free public Wi-Fi networks found in airports and hotels. The data on free public Wi-Fi networks is unencrypted and can be easily intercepted by attackers staging man-in-the-middle attacks. That data could include log-in credentials for banking sites or credit card numbers.

Always place orders from a secure connection. If your computer isn’t protected from potentially malicious software, your financial information and passwords are at risk from being stolen (and everything else you store on your computer or do online). This concept is so basic, yet only a fraction of the New Zealand population adequately protects their computers. Utilize a secure connection – make sure your computer’s firewall is on. If you’re shopping online while using a wireless network, it needs to be encrypted so someone who is lurking outside the house cannot steal your information. Avoid making any financial transactions when using a public network, as you may not know if it’s compromised.

 

·         Use a VPN

If you ever do use public Wi-Fi, shield yourself with VPN (a virtual private network). A VPN creates an encrypted tunnel between your computer and the server. Cybercriminals lurking nearby won’t be able to see what you’re doing or intercept your personal information. A VPN is the only method to shop online safely from public Wi-Fi in airports, cafes, and other public spaces.

 

·         Look for Customer Service Information

Safe online shopping websites have their toll-free customer service line or email address readily available. Consumers should go through the website’s refunds and exchanges policies: openness about these conditions is often a good indicator of credibility.

 

·         Pay With your Credit Card

One should use a credit card instead of a debit card to make purchases. Debit cards provide direct access to the bank accounts they’re linked to and aren’t covered by credit card fraud insurance policies. Fraudulent credit card transactions don’t impact your bank account and many credit card companies offer zero liability for fraudulent charges. With debit cards, the money for the transaction is immediately withdrawn from your account and you are responsible for getting the money back.

 

Apart from this, you need to keep a close tab on your credit card statements, even after you’ve received your purchased item. It’s always smart to ensure that there were no hidden charges tacked on, or unfamiliar names deducting from your account.

 

 

Final Note

There are newer technologies coming up these days and cyber-criminals are constantly on the lookout for innovative ways of duping customers. Hence, it is advisable to follow these recommendations while shopping online to avoid yourself becoming prey of fraudulent tactics by criminals.