How to Protect Yourself While Shopping Online

Since the time has come when you don't have too many choices but to shop online, it’s better if you will still practice vigilance. Although the pandemic is happening in the world right now, it’s still hard to say if the criminals are in a quarantine as well. Just be careful so that you will not end up being sorry in the end.

Online shopping is the best solution if you have a busy schedule. This allows you to do your shopping wherever you are even from your home. You can use your computer to check e-commerce websites that offer the goods you are looking for. It is also possible to just do your online shopping from a mobile phone or your tablet.

As convenient as it sounds, there are things to consider beforehand in order for you to shop online safely.

Few Tips and Tricks When Doing Your Online Shopping

1. Make sure that the website is legit

If you find a new shopping website different from what you used from the past, you can check the reviews of that website. Most of the bloggers will already have a review of the website and will tell you if it’s legit or a scam.

2. Use a Strong Password When Signing Up

Once you have decided to sign up, make sure to create a strong password in order for hackers not to easily hack your account. Remember, you will have to put in even your physical address for the shipping of your item. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

3. Use a Secured Network

It is still best to order online when you are using your own internet at home. Public WiFis are vulnerable to hackers so it is a good idea to just stay away from using them when doing an online transaction.

4. Don't Auto-Save Credit Card Information

Most of the online shopping sites will offer you to save your credit card information for smoother transactions next time you order from them. Do not fall for that trap. It might be convenient to just do that but you’ll never know what can happen when your information is just stored on their database.

5. Check Website Policy

We often neglect to read the policy or terms and conditions whenever we purchase anything. But reading through this will protect you from the purchase you made. Check if there is buyer protection in case the item delivered to you is defective or not as described.

6. Consider Using Another Payment Method

Using your credit card might be more convenient since all the information can be accessed by you right away. But using e-money or e-payment facilities can be less prone to fraud since you will not have your credit card information to enter the website.

7. Additional Useful Tips

Using a credit card is not that bad when making a purchase online. If you need to dispute the item and the seller are not responding, you can simply contact your bank.

To know if the website is secured, check if there is a padlock symbol to the address bar or click on it to view the website certificate. If you get a warning, then never use this website!

Make sure to check the delivery time it will take in case it will be shipped internationally. This will also avoid ordering items that you may no longer need if it takes a long time for the delivery.

Conclusion

Online shopping is a great way to get your needs without the need to go out of your home. It’s one of the best things that people were able to create. It makes it all possible without limiting yourself to only shop in your area. Not to mention the prices are way better compared to the malls. That’s the reason why people are enticed into buying online in the first place.

However, since the world seems to be changing drastically, it’s still not a bad idea to be careful with everything that you do. It’s a must that you still keep an eye on the warning signs. If you think that the website is not trustworthy, then just find another one. Most of the times, Amazon already has it all anyway so you don't have to worry about getting scammed with just a tube of toothpaste.