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What the fool does in the end, the wise man does in the beginning

– Spanish Proverb

With the holiday season fast approaching more and more people are turning to online shopping as a quick, easy and convenient way to make their purchases. With the wide variety of goods on offer and many bargains to be had, it is easy to get caught up in the ‘thrill of the chase’ and not pay attention to aspects of online safety. Whilst the vast majority of online transactions are completed without any problems, there are risks involved and as such it pays to be pro-active in an attempt to secure your online shopping activities.

There are many resources available to provide guidelines for safe and secure online shopping (see Google Tips), a brief summary of which can be made as follows:-

Make sure that you have up-to-date internet security software installed on your device, that you have strong passwords in place (you try not to reuse passwords across multiple accounts) and, if possible, you make use of 2-step verification to help keep your online account safe.
Do not make purchases or access sensitive information whilst using public computers and or free Wi-Fi. If you do need to use these services make sure that you sign-out properly before closing the browser.
Do not access sensitive accounts by clicking a link or copying and pasting the address, rather type the web address directly into the address bar. If you do click on a link and get instantly redirected, that site may have been hacked and contain malware, so make sure to check the address bar to ensure that the link you click on is the one you are delivered.
Make sure to only make purchases from sites that have SSL (secure socket layer) in place i.e. check for https:// and a closed padlock icon in the address bar and the URL or website name showing as green in the address bar (this means that the organisation that operates the website has been validated).
Only purchase from familiar or trusted websites. If purchasing from a new website, first make sure to research the seller, do a web search for reviews from other buyers with experience with the seller and ask questions about the condition of the item if necessary (some sites selling counterfeit products mimic the brand owner’s site by imitating the layouts and using similar images or using a domain name incorporating the brand). Legitimate merchants should provide you with contact information on their website.
When online shopping for gift cards ensure that you purchase from the actual vendor not thru a third party.
If a website is asking for too much personal information (beyond what is required to purchase a product or receive a service) be suspicious of a phishing attempt. Give the least amount of information possible to complete the transaction – the more information you make available the more damage in has if it gets into the wrong hands.
Never send credit card information to a seller via an e-mail.
Before making any online purchases, ensure you are familiar with the seller’s delivery, guarantee and return policy.
Keep a digital or paper copy of online shopping transactions to assist if you need to make a return or contest unauthorised charges made to your account.
Once you’ve received your purchase, inspect it to ensure that everything is as it should be. If it is not, then the sooner you can try to address a case of fraud, the better the chance you have to resolve the issue.
Check bank statements regularly (check for unknown purchases / charges from PayPal etc.). If you suspect you have been a victim of online fraud, notify your bank immediately. Most banks will limit your liability for online purchases in cases of fraud, depending on the specific circumstances. Check with your bank to find out more details.

When shopping online on a mobile device (phones and tablets), safety is often overlook. You are just as vulnerable to fraudulent transactions when using your mobile device to make online purchases as you are when using your PC. Make use of the following tips to help with shopping safely online using a mobile device:-

Use those apps provided by the retailer themselves, to find and purchase items directly from them, rather than going through the website
Do not use public Wi-Fi when making online purchases from your mobile device
When downloading payment apps, check their validity. It is best practice to only make use of those payment apps as provided by your bank and / or the retailer themselves.
Be careful about clicking through to sites via links on social media sites or other websites.
Only download apps via legitimate app stores.

5 Practices for conducting online shopping safely

Do not use free Wi-Fi
Do use sites that have SSL
Do use trusted websites only and use relevant apps provide
Do keep records of all your online transactions
Do check bank statements for any unfamiliar transactions

Shop until you drop, in the comfort of your own home

Related Links

cnet | Shop safely online

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