U.S. consumers spent billions of dollars online in 2019. With so much money changing hands virtually every year and with no downturn in sight, how do you stay safe online?
Learning the safest and best way to shop online will allow you to buy all the things you want without compromising your wallet’s safety.
Continue reading this article to learn how to shop online without worrying.
1. Don’t Shop on a Public WiFi Connection
If you see something cool you want to buy when you are out and about, make sure you’re not on public WiFi. Your cell phone, iPad, or laptop might remember public WiFi that you used in the past and automatically connect you to it.
Before shopping, make sure you are on your cellular data or that you are using your WiFi. Public wireless connections tend to not be secure. This makes it easy for people to hack and you might compromise your information.
2. Don’t Wire Money
If people ask you to wire them money to pay for a purchase, this is likely a scam. If you wire money to someone, you have no way of getting it back.
Always pay with a credit card that will allow you to dispute the charges in case they don’t ship the product to you. Check your credit card to see what their terms are on purchases you didn’t authorize or didn’t measure up to the agreed-upon terms.
3. Know the Terms of the Deal
Understanding the terms of the deal before you submit your payment information is a must. Look over all the terms to check for extra fees like taxes, shipping, handling, or other fees. Failing to read the fine print can end up costing you more than you planned on.
4. Only Use Safe Rebate and Savings Sites
Using sites that give you rebates on the things you buy is a great way to save money, but make sure you only use safe and reputable sites. If rebate sites require you to enter your credit card information to get the rebate, run!
5. Never Email Financial Information
Many phishing schemes try to make you think you’re dealing with the right person when it is, in fact, a scammer. These people might ask you to send your financial information to confirm your purchase.
No real retailer will ask you to email your financial information. Emailing financial information is an easy way to cause a security breach since people can hack your email and reveal your information on the dark web.
You Know the Best Way to Shop Online
Now you know the best way to shop online. Understanding how to keep safe when you’re shopping means you reduce the possibility of losing money and getting scammed.
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