Shop Safely Online!

Shopping Online?

The Net opens a world of vast information and many products or services, and you can get great deals, well ... some no so great :-)

     To tell the truth ... good deals
          ... price, choices, convenience, abound on the Internet.

Shopping online offers a lot of benefits ... the one I love more, the fact the Internet is a "Store opened seven days a week, 24 hrs a day".

You probably remember the times when you forgot to buy something, and then your realized it was late ... the store was closed ... and your wife/husband/mom/sister/brother was going to ...

Well, before you spend all your hard earned money ... please make sure

     "you are shopping online ... safely."

I encourage you to take steps to make sure your buying/selling transactions are secure and your personal information is protected.

Shop safely online and Make shopping online

     "a way of getting more from your online experience."

What are your risks of shopping online?

- Dishonest sellers

let's start by pointing out that most of the merchants on the Internet are legitimate companies; but the same way you will find dishonest merchants when you buy "in the real world", you will also find them when shopping online ...

... and that's why is very important that

     you make sure you are "shopping safely online" ... so please continue reading

- Shopping Online and Privacy Invasion

You will need to provide personal information when shopping online ... it's one of the ways sellers will protect themselves against dishonest buyers, also it serves to protect you. Usually you will get an email with details of the purchase

     When shopping online ... Always check company's privacy policy

Disclose only the information that is needed to make the buying/selling process safe.

A Company's privacy policy must disclose what information is being collected and what they do with the information.

- Financial Fraud when shopping online

When providing your credit card number or any other payment information, this could be intercepted by "online thieves".

Be Creative

When using passwords ... please do not use:

- family names

- only numbers or letters ... remember the movie?
     ... the password is 1 ... 2 ... 3 ... 4

- telephone numbers

- birth dates

     If you use passwords when shopping online ... use combinations of numbers and letters, and keep your passwords private.

So ... How do you protect yourself when shopping online?

     Shopping Online ... safely ... yes you can do it!

- Shoping online with companies your are familiar ... if you dont' know the company find out as much information as you can about them.

send emails to the company to see how fast and efficiently they answer

check their credentials ... their reputation ... check with the Better Business Bureau if necesary

When shopping online use tools like "Alexa Web Search Toolbar" to learn more about the company. Alexa will provide you with:

- web site ranking

- time of web site online

- contact

- company address

- customers oppinions

One note about Alexa ... it will provide you with the web site's ranking within Alexa not necessarily the same ranking the web site might have in other Search Engines

- The company's web site should have:
contact address
physical address
telephone
refund policy
privacy policy
warranties and guarantees

- The Sale transactions must include
copy of the terms and conditions of the sale total cost, including taxes, duties, shipping and handling fees
information about changing or cancelling your order delivery date

     Use A Secure Web Browser
When shopping online make sure your Web Browser complies with industry security standards
Most computers come with a web browser already installed. Check that complies with Secure Sockets Layer(SSL) or Secure Electronic Transaction (SET).

Shopping Online and Your Security

Check your computer's browser when shopping online and you are about to send information. It can tell you if the place where you are bout to send the information is secure. Look for a closed lock or unbroken key at the bottom of browser window.

"Look for the "lock icon" on the browser's status bar."

     What is the safest way of paying when shopping online?

When shopping online pay by credit card or charge card. In the case of unauthorized use of credit card or charge card, consumers are generally held liable only for the first $50. Some credit card company may provide you with additional purchase protection ... Always check with your Credit Card Company

Other electronic payment systems, electronic money or "emoney" also are now common. PayPal Accounts.

Remember ...

1. Print Out A Copy And Keep A Record Of Your Transaction.

2. "Always evaluate how the company is securing your financial and personal information. Most companies explain their security an privacy policies on their Web site ... if not ... email the company and ask questions."

3. If the company's Web site is complicate, difficult to navigate and you can not find their privacy and return policies ... do not do business with it

And finally

"If it sounds to good to be truth ... well ...investigate ... investigate"

     Shopping Online Is Great!

     Shopping Safely Online Is Your Right!

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