The amounts of shops and services accepting payment online is increasing dramatically, meaning there is an extremely wide range of products available at the click of a mouse. It is no surprise that scammers have flocked to the retail side of the Internet looking to steal your money, but if you follow some easy safety procedures, using your credit or debit card online can be just as safe as using it in your local shop.
10. Never wire money through Western Union or MoneyGram!
Run away at the mention of either of these services. They are not designed to be used by online businesses, and are prolifically used by scammers because of their lack of security.
9. Never buy from new websites.
Scam websites popup every month or so, and rarely last more than a several months. That is why you should try and avoid new websites selling goods, unless you have a good enough reason to trust that site.
8. Only enter your card information on a secure server
If you’re worried that sounds too technical, you needn’t be. Look at the start of the web address. https:// means secure. No “s” means not secure (just http://). Never enter your card details on a domain without the “s”.
7. Never buy from a site with poor spelling and grammar
Scam websites often originate from places like China or Russia. Be on the look out for poor grammar, syntax and spelling. Even if the website is legit, do you want to be buying from an unprofessional seller?
6. Don’t buy from websites with poor contact details
Essentially, always look out for a postal address, and do not trust websites that used free web based email addresses like Hotmail or Yahoo.
5. Don’t buy from poorly designed websites
Look for company branding, and good design. Scammers quickly set up website templates meaning there may be design and development flaws, and the site will often look tacky.
4. Don’t buy from sites if the prices are too good
Because most scam websites won’t actually sell anything, they will of course bait their victims with extremely low prices. Ask yourself if the prices are too good to be true. If they are, you may be getting scammed.
3. Have up-to-date Antivirus and Spyware Removal Software
Spyware steals your personal details like card information, so even if you are buying from a legit site, spyware can still put your privacy at risk. Run up-to-date antivirus software to make sure your computer is clean.
2. Don’t send your bank account, routing number or social security information
For readers in the UK, this means sort code and national insurance number. Online retailers don’t need this information so if they ask for it, you should shy away.
1. Novice shoppers should stick with the famous brands
If you’re new to the whole e-commerce scene, it is best to stick with reputable sites, and by this we mean –
Manufacturer websites, such as the official Sony, Dell or Samsung websites.
Shop websites, such as the official PCWorld, Walmart or Debenhams websites.
Other famous sites, such as Amazon.com or Buy.com.
Another bonus to sticking with sites like this is that the prices will always be competitive and there is plenty of buyer protection!
Those are our top tips to shopping safely online, and if you follow them, you should not find yourself falling foul to any Internet scams. This is a condensed version of our full article which can be read here.
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