March 10, 2025
With a click of a button, we can buy what we want. It’s easy and convenient but comes with it’s own risks. It’s important to do so safely.
Buying safely online is essential to protect your personal and financial information. Here are some tips to help you shop online securely:
Stick to well-known and trusted online retailers. Look for websites with secure payment options, customer reviews, and contact information.
Only shop on websites with “https://” in the URL. The “s” indicates a secure, encrypted connection. Avoid using public Wi-Fi networks for online shopping, as they can be less secure.
Ensure your computer, smartphone, and web browsers are up to date with the latest security patches and updates. This helps protect against known vulnerabilities.
Create strong, unique passwords for your online accounts. Use a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols, and avoid using easily guessable information like birthdays or names. Consider using a password manager to help you generate and store secure passwords.
Whenever possible, enable 2FA on your online shopping accounts. This adds an extra layer of security by requiring a one-time code sent to your mobile device or email to log in.
Be wary of unsolicited emails or pop-up ads that ask for personal or financial information. Legitimate companies will not ask for sensitive information through email. Verify the legitimacy of a website by checking its URL and contact information.
Use secure payment options like credit cards, PayPal, or trusted digital wallets. These methods often provide additional fraud protection and dispute resolution services. Avoid using debit cards for online shopping, as they may not offer the same level of fraud protection as credit cards.
Save confirmation emails, receipts, and order details for your online purchases. These records can be useful for tracking orders, returns, and disputes.
Before making a purchase, read reviews and ratings from other customers to gauge the quality and authenticity of the product and the seller.
Only provide necessary personal information during the checkout process. Be skeptical if a website requests excessive personal data.
Regularly check your bank and credit card statements for any unauthorized or suspicious transactions. Report any discrepancies to your financial institution immediately.
If something feels off about a website or a deal seems too good to be true, it’s better to err on the side of caution and avoid making a purchase.
By following these guidelines, you can significantly reduce the risks associated with online shopping and enjoy a safer and more secure online purchasing experience.
It’s worth reading our post on Financial scams which includes a section on common product and service scams.
Shopping online can become quite addictive especially for those living alone. Sometimes, it is the anticipation of receiving something rather than the actual product.
If you are thinking of making an impulse purchase, just wait 24 hours and then decide if you really want it. You made be surprised how often you come to the conclusion that you don’t really want it.
Whatever you do buy, especially if it’s expensive and there are multiple choices, read the reviews (just google the product name & reviews). Amazon reviews are often useful.
If you do buy online and then change your mind, you have 14 days from the date of delivery to ask for a refund. Whether you will have to pay for the return varies from retailer to retailer. Always worth checking the return conditions because quite often you may have longer than 14 days. There is one retailer who offers a 200 day return, that’s a rare exception.
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