Online shopping has become a fast and convenient way to make purchases without having to leave the comforts of your own home. Just a few clicks of the mouse and you are well on your way to a peaceful shopping experience without the hassles of looking for parking spots, or fighting crowds.
And as long as you have some kind of credit card, you can shop until your heart is content, or at least until you run out of money. But just how safe is it to use your credit card online without having to worry about compromising your privacy? The truth is that online shopping can be a very positive experience just as long as you follow a few simple rules that can help minimize your chances of becoming a victim.
Step 1
Check to see that you are shopping with a company that uses a secure server for its website. What this means is that the personal information that you input is unable to be seen by any third-party websites because the page is encrypted. Encryption relies on a series of algorithms or encoders that allows for only the intended party to view your private information. Look for a picture of a padlock on the page that requires your personal information. The padlock universally symbolizes a secure page.
Be sure to only shop with reputable online companies. Big companies such as Best Buy, Target, Wal-Mart all use secure servers for their online shopping guests. Be wary of companies that come up in Internet searches that you have never heard of. It is better to pay a little more for an item and keep your personal information secure than to save a few pennies and risk identity theft by buying from a no-name company with no encryption.
Read the privacy policy that is provided by the seller’s website. This privacy statement will reveal to you whether or not the seller will use your email or contact information for future advertising, or if they place your email on a list that will allow family companies to send you advertisements, as well. If there is no privacy page, do not shop with them. Any reputable company will not fail to disclose this information to potential customers.
Print out the sales receipt whenever you use your credit card to make an online purchase. This receipt will be your proof of payment and sale amount if there is ever a discrepancy on your credit card statement. After printing the receipt, place it in a safe place in case you need to make a copy of it. Most credit card companies will correct fraudulent charges to credit card accounts by placing the money back onto your card. But in case of an investigation, you may need your printed proof of receipt.
