Shop safely online this holiday season

 

Millions of Americans will shop online this holiday season to avoid crowded stores and long lines. In fact, online merchants racked up an estimated $1 billion in sales this year on Cyber Monday according to analytics group Coremetrics.

Online shoppers can quickly and easily compare product prices and features, and many online stores allow shoppers to read and post reviews, providing valuable information about product features and performance.

However, online shopping can quickly go awry if proper precautions aren’t taken, according to David Roberts, a technical support representative for Socket, a Missouri-based phone and Internet provider.

"Shopping on the Web is great, but if it's not done safely, it can cause a lot of headaches," Roberts cautions. "It's important to follow a few basic precautions to ensure a safe and easy online shopping experience."

Roberts offers the following tips to shop safely online this holiday season:

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  • When it’s time to enter payment information, be sure the website is encrypted, or secure. Start by looking for “https://” rather than “http://” in your browser’s address bar, since this indicates a secure site. Your browser may also display an icon—such as a closed padlock or an unbroken key—to indicate a secure website.

  • Always make online purchases with a credit card. By doing so, the transactions are protected under the Fair Credit Billing Act, which gives consumers the right to dispute any charges and withhold payments during an investigation. Paypal is another good option, since it allows shoppers to use a credit card without submitting the card number directly to the merchant. Do not use ATM and debit cards since they expose bank accounts to potential theft and do not offer the same protection as credit cards.

  • Know the facts of each purchase. Be aware of delivery dates, shipping costs, warranties and return policies before buying online. Shipping dates are especially important if the item needs to arrive by a certain date. Print or save all transaction receipts and confirmation e-mails, and write down a telephone number or e-mail address before finalizing each order in case of questions or problems. Track spending on your credit card or bank’s website, where you can view each purchase date and amount.

  • Use smart logins. Most e-commerce websites require shoppers to sign in with a username and password, so be sure both are well protected. Use a password with at least eight characters and a combination of both letters and numbers. Don't use commonly known information (such as a birth date, anniversary date or pet’s name).

  • Verify legitimacy. If an offer is too be good to be true, it probably is. Be especially cautious of extraordinary claims, unusually low prices, unanswered phone calls and even spelling or grammar mistakes on the website. When in doubt, shop on trusted websites you have used before. Use a little common sense to determine the safety and credibility of each online purchase.

 

"The online shopping experience can be very enjoyable when proper safety measures are taken," said Roberts. "When shoppers take advantage of its conveniences, they’ll likely have a little more time and peace of mind to truly enjoy the holiday season."

Socket Tech Talk is provided as a service to distribute general information concerning technology-related topics. Please consult your local computer expert for information specific to your situation.