SHOPPING ALL ONLINE

Online Shopping Tips: Online Shopping fraud is a broad concept, which includes a range of activities right from hidden charges and phishing to credit card frauds and identity theft. Given below are some of the simplest precautions that you will take when you opt for shopping online.

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Secured PC: You need to make sure that the PC you are using for Online Shopping and related transactions are up-to-date with security measures, like anti-virus software and firewall. Being one of the most important tips as far as safe Online Shopping is concerned; this can help you in keeping those malicious programs out of your transactions.

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Popular Website: Try to make online purchases only with companies you are already familiar with. Chances are, a store you visit on a regular basis probably has a safe website. But, if you visit a website you know nothing about, you are putting your personal information, like your credit card info, at risk.

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Product Details: Do not be an impulsive buyer and buy something at the spur of the moment without reading all the details of the product properly. When shopping for clothes, check the size chart, colors, and other product description details. If you do not check the product description carefully, there are high chances that the item which you receive might not match your expectations. Also, don't forget to read the details in 'fine print'.

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Keep a Record of All Your Purchases: Most of the people are by naturally disorganized and unable to keep records. Learn to stay records of all your online purchases. This can help you keep track of your spending and shopping. Print all receipts or save them on your laptop in a folder named “Receipts”. This can help you locate orders that you placed but never delivered.

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Keep Personal Information Safe: Do not give them to strangers who may call you over the phone or request them by e-mail. Personal information includes; your address, e-mail address, phone number, social security number, drivers’ license, age, information about your family. Do not give them to any stranger and teach your children not to do so.

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Keep Your Passwords Private: When creating your password, avoid using phone numbers, birth dates or social security numbers. Be creative. Use a password that's not easy for others to guess, and yet not easy for you to forget. Change your passwords often. Use phrases to help you remember them. Do not disclose passwords to anyone.

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Read the FAQ and Fine Print: Most professional sites will offer a listing of Frequently Asked Questions. These questions ought to answer basic concerns about shipping rates, return policies, and payment security. All honorable merchants have secure sites that protect the security of your credit card and check information and other personal information. Look cautiously for any fine print or special terms and conditions. If a site does not offer this information, contact customer service and inquire about the merchant's policies. If a retailer is not able to offer basic information on their sales policies, look elsewhere for a more proficient seller.

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Sign up for Mailing Lists: Visit the websites of your favorite stores and sign up for the retailer's mailing list so as to receive advance notice about special sales and different offers. Merchants may occasionally offer sales and incentives only for online sales. Being on the mailing list will ensure that you do not miss out on money saving deals.

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Payment: Look for your payment options when you are looking for an online store. Most online sites accept major credit cards – MasterCard, Visa, Discover and American Express. Some even accept PayPal or have a Bill Me Later plan where you can pay for your purchase in 90 days without paying any interest. Check every site to make sure that it is encrypted using SSL (secure socket layer) technology. Even better is if they utilize the services of entrusted security companies like McAfee Secure and VeriSign to process their credit card transactions. If you are not comfortable using your credit card online check to see what options are available such as ordering by phone or mailing in a money order.

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Credit Card: Using a credit card when you are shopping online is generally safer than a debit card. If something happens with your charges on a credit card, the money is not been deducted from your account. Moreover, most credit card companies provide fraud protection and this is not yet true of all debit cards. Some credit cards even provide virtual credit card account numbers that can use only once, ensuring your safety. If your debit card number stolen, it will give hackers total access to your account, and result in even more difficult situations for you.

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Customer Service: Online Shopping is safer when you are buying from a well-known, established company. If you have a problem with your order or your charges from a company that nobody has ever heard of, you will be out of luck. However, if you have the same problem with an established company with lots of different locations, you will easily find someone to help you remedy the problem. Along the same lines, when you are shopping online, you should always confirm that the company has an easy way to contact customer service. They must have an email address, toll free number, or live chat — preferably all three. If you cannot find a way to contact customer service, do not order from that company.

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Privacy Policy: A trusted website is bound to have its privacy policy, which will cover all the points whereby the website would be legally bound to keep your personal details confidential, and giving away this information to the third party, would mean breach of contract, with possible legal implications. If any website does not have their privacy policy in its place, it is better off to stay away from the same.

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Return Policy: Check the company's shipping information and return policies. A company should ship your order within the time stated in their ads. If no time frame is stated, the merchant should ship the product within 30 days, or offer you the choice of canceling the order and receiving a refund. Make sure to review the choices offered for shipping, and make sure you know the shipping and handling fees before you place the order. Discover how the merchant handles returns or complaints, and whether or not you will get a full refund if there is a problem with your order.

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Shipping Charges: If possible, try to find out shipping charges before spending a lot of time adding items to your cart. You may think you're getting a great deal on all those products, but if shipping is too high, you might end paying a lot more than you anticipated. This is especially true if you're ordering from a country other than the one you reside in. Many online stores offer free shipping, which is great. However do a few price comparisons before you buy. Occasionally, you'll find a better price at an online store that charges a reasonable rate for shipping, and still come out ahead.

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Avoid Hidden Charge: Always compare the shipping prices in various websites then opt for the good one. Do read the purchase policies of the website from which you do shopping. Check out the return policies of the store and check whether any re-stocking fee has to be paid. Watch out for the additional fees when there are discounts and free shipping. Check the warranty of the product and read the policies of it in the terms and policies of the company. Many websites have prices in US dollars, there may be extra cost taken during currency conversion. Check the current dollar rate and then pay the money.

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Avoid Getting Scammed: Do not open any link that comes to your email. Do not save the bank details in the mail or anywhere. Do not enter your e-mail ID and password from any other website other than your email provider website. Buy products online and choose cash on delivery. Do online transactions only on the most trusted site. Keep strong passwords for your email and bank accounts online. Do not keep passwords like your date of birth or born city, as these are easy to guess. Use the modern features of the browsers such as private browsing that do not store any cookies.

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Couponing Safely: On one hand couponing is to save money, but one should be clear and careful while couponing. There are many tips for couponing safely. Couponing is sometime addictive in ways of searching for best deal. While purchasing with coupons one should know that the item is need or it is just shelf filling item. No use of buying the item which is going expire before you use it or that you have coupon for certain item you should buy it again and again for example hot sauce, water bottle, torch light etc. just because you have a pile of coupon it is not necessary you should buy the items and fill you cupboard. By getting some tips for couponing you can save more money and purchase what all things is need.

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These are some of the general tips, which you need to follow in order to ensure that your shopping escapade does not go awry. If, at all, you end up having a bad experience, you can report the company to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or the consumer protection agency in your area of jurisdiction. There are various phishing websites out there in the guise of shopping websites. In such circumstances, it would take efforts from all of us to come together, make online shopping safe, and secure.