Sometime, online shopping can lead you to fraud transactions. This article will help you to become a smart and safe online buyer.
It can be pretty intimidating to buying online. The Internet can sometimes be an unsafe place if you don’t know how to protect yourself. There are always stories about scams, hackers that will try to steal your identity, and the plain fact that while you have to pay people in advance for goods you have no real guarantee you’ll ever see what you paid for. It seems like a bit of a risk especially when you consider that fact that you could just walk into a store, pay for your purchase and have no risk at all.
However, there are great benefits to shopping online, and reliable ways to protect yourself from risk. If you’re careful, you can be sure you don’t lose your money or fall prey to a scam. Just keep in mind these simple tips, and you’ll reduce your risks.
Pick a Good Website to Shop from
When surfing the web in search of merchandise, chances are you’ll find what you want on a variety of sites. There are several you can go to that are safe. Amazon, Ebay, and Craigslist are all proven to be legitimate and trustworthy. Yahoo Merchant Solution is also an excellent place to shop, as it’s a large company that offers sellers a home. You know there’s a name behind the transaction even when you’re shopping from an individual online.
Don’t Use Your Bank Card
A lot of sites will ask you to pay with a debit or credit card when you check out. The purchase has to be made electronically, of course, so you can’t just send in cash or a check. However, it’s a good idea not to use your actual card since this is one of the ways hackers can steal your personal data. Instead, try to use secure online transaction accounts like PayPal. If the site must have a debit number, don’t use the card attached to your bank account. There are several debit cards available today that only cost a few dollars when you first pick them up. You can put as much or as little money on them as you like, and they work just as well as a bank card. This way, if your number is hacked and taken, you don’t have to worry about the security of your account. You can simply toss that card and get a new one with all new numbers.
Check Ratings of Sellers
Many sites like Amazon and eBay rate everyone that sells merchandise through their sites. You can look up any person you’re thinking of buying from and see how well he or she rates. Often, if they’ve had problems in the past, you’ll be able to find out about it and judge for yourself if you still want to buy from them. If sellers have a history of not sending packages on time, it will be documented. Also, you will see if the seller has a good reputation and is safe to buy from.