9 Tips For Safer Online Shopping Experience

Shopping online is a convenient way to do your shopping.

But it’s important not to let convenience trump security when it comes to shopping online. With many retailers now offering easy returns on their websites, consumers are more likely than ever before to buy something without first seeing it in person—and that means more opportunities for scammers and identity thieves looking for an easy target.

If you’re not careful, you can loose your money and personal information. In this article we’ll show you some simple ways to avoid falling victim and enjoy the benefits of shopping online safely.

Be Safe Online Shopping

Online shopping has become a popular way for people to make purchases. However, there are some risks. You can protect yourself from identity theft and other fraud by taking the following precautions:

• Use a secure connection when shopping on websites that offer personal information.
• Do not give out personal information or credit card numbers unless you are sure about the source of the website and its safety practices.
• Create a shopping list so that you know exactly what you want before making purchases online.
• Use a shopping partner like Amazon Prime, which allows members to receive free shipping on many items sold through Amazon Prime’s website (www.amazonprimevideostreamingtvshowseriebookstoremusic). If they’re not already signed up for this program(which usually requires a yearly membership fee), consider signing up today so that it’s easier next time around!

Secure connection

• Use a secure connection. If you’re shopping online, make sure that the website comes up in your browser as HTTPS rather than HTTP. This means the site is secured with an SSL certificate and that your data is not accessible to unwanted parties.
• Use a VPN (Virtual Private Network). This is a service that encrypts your data and hides it from anyone you don’t want seeing it — like hackers or government agencies. You can use this tool on public Wi-Fi networks just as easily as at home to ensure that nobody can see what you’re doing online or where any of your purchases are going beyond your device itself.

No personal information

• Protect your privacy. Don’t share confidential details (such as your Social Security number, credit card information or medical conditions) on public sites such as blogs and forums. Even if you are communicating on a site that appears to be reputable, never provide personal information like your Social Security number or credit card info over email. Be wary of unsolicited requests for even seemingly innocuous information, such as name and email address.
• Only shop using secure sites
• Shop at sites that are secure with SSL encryption (the “s” stands for “secure”). This means the site has an active certificate from a trusted third-party provider verifying that it is authentic and trustworthy.

Gift cards

Gift cards are another popular item on the internet. They’re easy to buy, and there’s no hassle about picking out the right size or color. If you’re shopping for someone else, gift cards can help them pick out the perfect present for themselves.

But with all the convenience and popularity comes some danger! Scammers try to trick customers into buying fake gift cards or tampered ones. And even if you’re not worried about being scammed by a stranger online, there are still plenty of other things to watch out for. Here are some tips:

• Avoid scams by purchasing gift cards from authorized sellers only (look at their website address). Also make sure they aren’t selling above face value—if it seems too good to be true, then it probably is!
• Don’t buy gifts that have been tampered with; these could steal your money later on and ruin your holiday season!
• Make sure any coupons or deals offered are coming from reputable sources like RetailMeNot or Coupon It Now so you don’t fall victim again later down the road!

Shopping list

A shopping list is key to a successful online shopping experience. It’s the best way to keep track of what you need, organise your shopping trip and manage your budget. Here are some tips for making the most of it:

• Create a list that spans weeks or months at a time so that you don’t have to make one every time you feel like buying something online. This way, all the items on the list will be there in one place instead of cluttering up your email inbox.
• Keep only one copy of this list so everyone in your household knows where it is and can access it easily. If needed, create more than one version of this list depending on what kinds of items they each want to buy (for example: if someone has allergies or preferences).
• Print out copies for everyone in case they want them while they’re away from home too!
• Use mobile apps that let you share shopping lists with family members.

Shopping partner

If you have more people involved in the shopping process, there’s a greater chance of error. If you’re shopping with a partner or working with a group, make sure everyone is on the same page regarding what’s happening and what needs to happen next.

Also Read: Rising Trends In Online Shopping

Beware of urgent messages

Urgent messages are often scams. If you’re not sure what to do when you receive an urgent message, don’t call the number in it. Urgent messages are designed to make people act quickly without thinking. If a friend or family member sends you one, be especially wary and ask yourself if they would ever send such a message.

If the message is urgent and appears legitimate but isn’t from someone familiar with your contact list, call the company directly instead of responding via email or text message. This will help you avoid being scammed by fake websites that look authentic because they use the same domain name as the legitimate site (i.e., [example domain]).

Review the privacy policy

The privacy policy is a document that describes the website’s practices and policies regarding how it collects, uses and shares your information. It also covers what you can do if you don’t want to be tracked by the site (like installing browser add-ons or blocking cookies).

• If you’re using certain features on the website, like social media plugins or email marketing services, then this information may be used for advertising purposes. The user has consented to provide such data in order to use these specific services.
• If you have signed up for an account with the website, then any information provided during registration will likely be used for marketing purposes (such as sending promotional emails). The user has consented to provide such data when creating their account on that particular platform/website.

Card security code

The card security code is a 3-digit number that appears on the back of your credit or debit card. It’s in the signature panel on the front of your card.

The code is used to verify if you have physical possession of your card when making online purchases, so it’s important to know how to find this information if you don’t already. Most merchants will ask for it before they process an online transaction. In some cases, they won’t accept a transaction without it.

Home Wi-Fi security

• VPN: A virtual private network (VPN) is a secure tunnel that created over the Internet. You can use it to access resources on your home network that are not accessible from outside.
• Password and 2-factor authentication: Use strong passwords, preferably using a combination of upper and lower case letters, numbers, and symbols in your password. Make sure you use different passwords for each account you have. Double check if those websites support 2-factor authentication (also called multi-factor authentication). Many sites including Google and Amazon now require this extra layer of security before granting access to their services.
• Firewall: A firewall is an application or hardware component that monitors incoming network traffic looking for suspicious activity such as unauthorized attempts to access your computer from another computer on the Internet or someone attempting to send information out of your computer without authorization. Firewalls protect computers by blocking intruders; however they don’t prevent all attacks so it’s important to use them together with antivirus software when securing networks which provide additional protection against viruses spreading throughout networks via email attachments or websites visited by users inside corporations

Conclusion

Online shopping can provide a convenient way to shop from home or on the go. However, there are some things you should watch out for when making online purchases. Follow these tips to ensure that your online shopping experiences are safe and secure: