With the advancement of online technology, more and more businesses are moving online. There is almost no need now to personally make a trip to the local mega store and buy products. From clothing to video games to pharmaceuticals, almost everything can be found online.
Most websites that sell products or services use credit card transactions as well as Paypal (a popular online payment gateway). However, are online transactions really safe? How does the average consumer ensure that they are not cheated when making an online purchase?
Here are some tips to take note of:
1. Do not transact online using public computers. Public computers may have “keyloggers” (programs that record keystrokes) and other spyware to retrieve sensitive information.
2. When making transactions from your personal computer, make sure you have basic security measures up to date. (For example, firewall, antivirus program, antispyware program)
3. When comparing product prices, take note of any company that has prices much lower than its competitor’s. This company could be a fraud.
4. Always try to transact on the real website. Do not attempt to make any purchases through links in emails. Those emails may be scams.
5. Only trade on sites that display a security icon (check the little padlock in the bottom right corner of your browser). Websites like Amazon.com, Ebay.com, Craigslist.org, and Ablewise.com offer very secure payment methods for their products and services.
6. Make sure “http” in your browser’s address bar has changed to “https” to indicate a secure transaction.
7. Before providing sensitive details (for example, credit card numbers), call the provider to verify their authenticity. At a minimum, contact the supplier by email, find out the specifics of your purchase and how you’re going to buy it.
8. Always keep a printed copy of the receipt that is provided at the end of transactions. Match these receipts to your credit card statement to ensure the correct amount has been credited.
Lastly, make sure your passwords, credit card numbers, and other sensitive information are kept secret at all times. If you even slightly suspect that your account has been compromised, notify the webmaster and request that your account be terminated or suspended immediately.
