Here are a few safety tips
to make your online shopping experience an enjoyable one.
-
Know the
return and exchange policy. If it is not on their web page, use the
site's e-mail or other "contact us" link to ask for their policy
before making a purchase.
-
Document
your purchases. Save or print out everything involving your
transaction. Ensure that the seller itemizes the total cost including
tax and fees. Be sure to save your credit card statements in case of a
problem.
-
Never send your credit card information in an email message
as email is not secure.
-
Never
give your Social Security Number to an online vendor.
-
Find out
how the package is being sent. Be sure the item is in stock, how it
will be shipped and when. Watch out for delivery or handling fees.
Look for sellers that have an order tracking system and that use
shipping services which can track your package online. Take note of
the e-mail address or phone number that you an use if you have a
question or need to check on your order.
-
Inquire
about the vendor's cancellation policy. There should be a customer
service or FAQ (frequently asked questions) section with details on
how to cancel an order. Most online retailers allow cancellations in
an allotted time period.
-
Secure
your privacy. Know what type of information a retailer is collecting
about you, how it is used and who it will be shared with. Determine if
you can refuse to allow your personal information to be sold to other
businesses or marketers. Be wary of sellers that ask for personal
information that is not relevant to making a purchase.
-
Never
click on a link in an email message that asks you to update your
account information. If you receive such a message, don't click its
links or buttons. Instead, close the message, open your Web browser,
visit the site in question, and navigate to the My Account section. A
very common scam is to send an email stating something is wrong with
your account (or order) and providing a link to the section where
corrections can be made. The link itself is the problem - it takes you
to a different server (not the vendor's) and captures the information
you enter. The scammer uses that information to make purchases or open
other accounts illegally.
-
Never
wire money out of the country. This is always a bad idea because you
have almost no chance of getting the money back.
-
Pay only
by credit card. Credit cards offer numerous consumer protections. If
you do not receive the merchandise you purchased, contact your credit
card company and ask that they stop payment. Federal law also limits
your liability in the event unauthorized charges are made to your
credit card account. Debit cards may seem like credit cards but they
do not offer the same anti-theft and anti-fraud protections.