How to Shop Online Safely

By Lynn Truong This article shares tips from the 15th episode of Dealista, our new podcast that'll help you get more for less. Click play to listen, or subscribe via iTunes to take the episode with you!

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Black Friday officially rang in the holiday shopping season and today is Cyber Monday, the day when retailers offer big sales online. If you didn't head out before dawn to line up for Black Friday deals, perhaps you've already spent your morning back at work shopping from the comfort of your desk and checking people off your gift list.
However, with the uptake in online shopping, so does online crime. Thankfully, there are a few easy things we can do to avoid becoming a victim of it.
Computer Safety
Make sure the computer you are using is secure. That means downloading and installing updates for your operating system, security software (firewall, anti-virus, and anti-spyware), and even your browser. Comodo, Avira, and Super AntiSpyware are popular, safe, and free security programs. (Make sure you're downloading the free versions of each. Sometimes they make the "free trial" button bigger than the "free version" button.) Update and secure your wireless connection.
Because you have less control over the security features, it's best to avoid using public computers and public wireless connections whenever you are shopping online or accessing personal financial information.
Seller Reputation
Check out the store before placing an order. Do a search for reviews and only shop from stores that are reputable and have been rated. The site should have a privacy policy, a returns policy, and a physical address and phone number. During the order process, look for a yellow padlock on the status bar of your browser screen. Also look for a URL that starts with https rather than the usual http. The “s” indicates that you're on a secure page, which means that the data sent from that page is encrypted (and difficult for hackers to access). Do not enter your credit card or other sensitive information if you do not see these symbols on the site.
Private Sellers
When shopping on sites like Ebay or Etsy, the best you can do is to check the seller's ratings and feedback. Also, always go through the formal process as directed by the site. If a seller requests that a sale be made "off site," report the seller immediately. Sometimes sellers offer a discount for doing this to bypass the seller fees they pay when a sale is recorded. It's best to be safe than sorry in these cases.
Payment Security
Credit cards will offer a higher level of protection than debit cards or cash. If you use a check or debit card, the amount is first taken out of your checking account, and you'd have to go through a process to get it back. But if you see an unauthorized charge on your credit card, you can dispute it before having to pay for it first.
Some credit card companies also offer temporary account numbers or prepaid cards to lessen the risk of identity theft. The temporary account numbers may be good only for a limited time, or for online shopping only with a smaller credit limit.
Purchase Tracking
It may be easy to forget about an order or two, so keep track of all your purchases and check that the correct amount was charged on your credit cards. Also track their shipping status and confirm that each order is properly delivered.
Email Fraud
To be safe, it's best to never click on a single link in an email. However, the most important ones to avoid are the ones that ask you to "confirm" your financial information. It might even use the name of the bank you actually have an account in. If that's the case, type the address of the bank site directly in your browser and contact them directly to ask if they really are looking for you.
Report Problems
If you have been a victim of online fraud, report to the following:

the Attorney General's office in your state
your county or state consumer protection agency
the Better Business Bureau at: www.bbb.org
the Federal Trade Commission at: www.ftc.gov/

Dealista
If you enjoyed these tips you can find more in our show's archive or subscribe via iTunes.
Dealista is a collaboration between Wise Bread and Quick and Dirty Tips, the producer of popular podcasts such as Grammar Girl, Money Girl, Winning Investor, and Mighty Mommy.
Check out more great tips from our sister shows:

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Created by FiestaMaster 15 weeks 1 day ago – Made popular 15 weeks 1 day ago
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