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7 Tips for Online Shoppers

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Online Shoppers: Protect Your Money and Identity

Birthday gifts, clothing, furniture, and even groceries, with just the click of your mouse! You can order almost anything, from anywhere in the world, without ever leaving your house.

Online shopping is a luxury for today’s generations. As even more of an incentive to make your purchases online, many companies offer internet savings or free shipping. But, as great as online shopping can be, there are some flaws. It is important to ensure all of your purchases are done with safety and security.

Tips for Safe Online Shopping

  1. Make sure the business is legitimate. Obviously, websites for Walmart or Target are going to be justifiable, but there are tons of websites that will not be. Do research on the website; if they have a telephone number, call it.
  2. Though you probably never have, it is important to actually read the terms and conditions, warranty, refund, and privacy policies of the website. Only buy from the website if you are 100 percent comfortable with their policies.
  3. To verify that a site is safe, look for an ‘https:’ in the beginning of the domain name, a padlock, or that the domain name is highlighted in green. All of these indicate that the page you are on is safe. Most companies will have all three indicators when you are entering your credit card number. Do not enter any personal information if the site is not deemed as safe.
  4. It might be wise to make a folder for all of your online purchases. Print out a copy of your order before and after you confirm your purchase, print receipts, and take note of any reference numbers. Also, regularly check your bank or credit card statements and troubleshoot anything unusual as soon as you see it.
  5. Most items take anywhere from three to seven business days to reach your home, which is plenty of time to forget the expected arrival of your package. Make a mark on your calendar on the latest day your package should arrive. If your package doesn’t make it on time, call the company immediately.
  6. Most websites have a ‘Track Your Shipment,’ which you should really try to take advantage of.
  7. As soon as you get your package, check your item for any damage. If your item is damaged, send it back as soon as you can, and call the company to let them know exactly why you are sending it back. This is where keeping a record of all confirmations and receipts come in handy- you will need reference or confirmation numbers when returning an item.

 

If you get the feeling that a website is a scam, than you’re probably right. Use these tips to safely enjoy the freedom that online shopping offers.