Online Shopping: 5 Tips To Stay Safe When Buying Online

By Author: Manoj Upadhyay
Total Articles: 38
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The concept of online shopping has made life so much more convenient. From providing consumers with photographs and information regarding the product to live online shopping, the era of online shopping is very much here to stay. However, its growth in popularity has also given rise to the activities of cybercriminals who target unwary customers.
 
With the holiday shopping season nearing and imminent lockdowns coming, the number of online shoppers and the volume of online purchases are expected to grow even more. Shoppers are turning to e-commerce platforms not only for fashion and tech, as they used to in previous years, but also for groceries and everyday items.
 
While there’s every reason in the world to shop online – the bargains, the selection, fast shipping, easy returns, and many other payoffs – it comes with its own set of risks. Apart from scammers, there’s the risk of quality, warranty, and lack of good customer support – which result in a bad customer experience.
 
In such a situation, shopping securely is the key. A ...
... smart shopper needs be on guard, whether shopping online via desktops or mobiles, especially considering that live online shopping is becoming a rage with the masses. Caught up in the shopping frenzy and rushing to get the best deals, online shoppers might overlook the warning signs of online scams, which come in the form of cyber threats, spam, phishing, data theft, etc.
 
While this can somewhat alarming, they shouldn’t stop you from shopping online. There are certain guidelines one must follow while purchasing things online which will help you shop safely. Check out the list below:
 

Shop from Trusted Vendors

 
Chances of getting scammed are lower if you shop on reputable e-commerce platforms that you know and trust. However, make sure you are accessing the right online shop. Search results can be rigged to lead you astray, especially when you drift past the first few pages of links. If you know the site, chances are it's less likely to be a rip-off. If you’re using a website that you’ve never used or heard of before, search for them online to make sure they don’t have any negative feedback.
 

Look for the Lock

 
Never buy anything online using your credit card from a site that doesn't have SSL (secure sockets layer) encryption installed—at the very least. How can you find out? If the website URL starts with ‘https’ instead of just ‘http’, that means the site has SSL. An icon of a locked padlock will appear, typically to the left of the URL in the address bar or the status bar down below; it depends on your browser. However, it is important to remember that this only means that the site is secure, not that the seller is honest. You can also look for the following signs for safe shopping:

Green Address Bar: On certain browsers and websites, the address bar will turn green.
Valid Certificate: If you click the padlock symbol or just to the left of the address bar, you should see information on the site certificate. This should tell you who has registered the site. If you get a warning about a certificate, avoid the website.

Avoid ‘Too Good to Be True’ Offers

 
Any e-store that promises too much at too low a price is suspicious. If the price is too low, consider whether the merchant came by the items legally, if you will ever receive the items you paid for, whether the items are actually the brand shown or a cheap substitute, whether the item will work, if you will be able to return damaged goods – or if the merchant is earning extra income by selling your financial information. 
 

Don’t Overshare

 
Most websites you visit or shop on will ask you for information to complete your purchase or start a wish list. Give them only the information they require you to provide. No online shopping e-tailer needs your Social Security number or your birthday to do business. However, if crooks get them and your credit card number, they can do a lot of damage. The more info you put out there, the more accessible you are to a bad guy.
 

Skip the Cards, Go Mobile

 
Paying for items using e-wallets is pretty standard these days in brick-and-mortar stores and is actually even more secure than using your credit card. Using mobile payment apps like Google Pay and Paytm generates a one-time-use authentication (OTP) for the purchase that no one else can steal and use. It matters when you’re shopping online a lot of apps and online stores nowadays provide e-wallet payments as an option for customers. If you’re going digital, do it all the way!
 
Online shopping has certainly changed the way the world looks at retail. The advancement in technology is instrumental in making online shopping even more accessible to consumers across the globe. By incorporating features like live video shopping into its fold, e-commerce has become the world’s favourite way to shop!