With the growth of online shopping, scams and frauds too have reached unprecedented heights. As such one must be doubly sure before making that online transaction.
1.Using Trusted Websites
Avoid using the search engine in your quest to buy stuff online. You must know search results are prone to rigging, once you move past the first few pages (which you normally do to find the best deal out there) of links. Ideally you should always go for trusted and familiar websites. Companies like OLX Free Classifieds have given the desired momentum to online shopping. It is a tried and trusted brand for all your online shopping needs. You must keep your eyes open at all instances and beware of misspellings or websites that use a different top-level domain, for instance .net instead of .com.
2.SSL is the Way to Go
Never give out your credit card details on a website that lacks SSL (secure sockets layer) encryption installed. How do you look for it? Well, a website having SSL will have its URL starting with HTTPS:// and not HTTP://. Further, depending on the browser you're using, a locked padlock icon will appear in the status bar at the bottom of your browser if it has SSL, or it can also lie next to the URL in the address bar.
3.Crooks will always want more Info
A trusted website will never need your social security number or your birthday for that matter to do business with you. Beware of giving out too much information, because the more the information the crooks will have (accompanied by your credit card details), the more accurately they will be able to impersonate you and cause damage.
4.Check your Statements Regularly
Instead of waiting for your bill to come to you by the end of the month, regularly looking at electronic statements for your credit card, debit card, and checking accounts online is a healthy practice. If at all you find something wrong, make the next move immediately to avoid further damage. Always pay your credit card bills only when you're sure they are 100 per cent accurate.
5.Update your Anti-Virus
This step will not only save you from the troubles of fraudulent transactions but also keep you safe in general. Having an updated anti-virus is a necessity that everyone must practice at all cost.
6.Use Strong Passwords While Shopping Online
Banking and shopping both call for real strong passwords. Also beware of using the same password for multiple websites to avoid considerable damage in case one of your accounts is compromised.
7.Going Mobile
Large number of people today use their smartphones for their varied online shopping needs. It's not bad, however, you must always make use of trusted apps (apps provided directly by websites like OLX) and not some random app posing as the real one but actually being a scam.
8.Don't use Public Computers for Online Shopping
While, ideally you must refrain from using public systems for your online shopping needs, in case you're left with little choice, make sure you log out securely and never leave your passwords sved in any way.
9.Sticking to known Wi-Fi Networks
Man in the middle attacks have become quite an issue today. The same stems from the use of public Wi-Fi. It's ideal you stick to familiar Wi-Fi networks and in case you do wander off only use the wireless if you access the Web over a virtual private network (VPN) connection.
10.Beware of Gift Cards
Stick to the source when you buy a gift card. Crooks normally auction off gift cards on sites like eBay with little or no funds on them as such you must be on your heels at all times.
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