Internet Buying Safety Tips
Internet buying is unavoidable in modern times. However, many people are reluctant to transact any business on the internet. Why? They fear losing money to fraudulent people. While they are right, avoidance is not the solution. Even in the conventional way of transacting business, numerous people lose significant sums of money in trickery. Instead of avoiding, it’s therefore essential to equip yourself with internet buying safety measures.
Did you know that internet buying is safer if you learn how to identify useful websites from fraudulent ones? I have transacted business many times on the internet. I want to assert that no one has ever cheated me. It’s, therefore, my pleasure to share with you the same internet buying safety techniques I have always applied when shopping online from any company.
Which Internet Buying Safety Techniques Should You Bear in Mind?
Check for the Supplier’s Real Existence
First, before buying online, establish whether the supplier is genuine and credible. Do this by checking out for their contact information, privacy statement, customers’ testimonials and feedback from customers. These details should be available on the supplier’s website. Contact information should usually include personal and business information, your photo, name, telephone contacts, postal and physical addresses.
Check the Website’s Domain Name
Secondly, establish whether the supplier’s website has its domain name. Additionally, find out whether they hosted the site with a recognised professional web host. Remember that if the supplier cannot invest in his domain name that costs as little as $ 10/-, then he is not a serious businessman. And if he uses a free server to host his website, that’s enough information for you to click away. Yes, move away so that he doesn’t cheat you.
Ensure That There Is Safety When Making Online Payment
Thirdly, make sure your online payment is appropriately handled by having your details encrypted so that no one else views them apart from the bank processing your transactions. Keep your credit card PIN to yourself. If you make a mistake of sending it to anyone else over the internet, you expose yourself to wrong people to cheat you. No other person should see your credit card details to ensure safe internet buying.
Consider Other Payment Options
Consider Other Payment OptionsUse different payment methods in case you have doubts with using your credit card. It will enable you to transact business without any worry of any risk. For instance, you can open an account with PayPal.com and link your credit card to your account. Each time you make a payment, you use your PayPal account, which provides the safest way of processing payment online.
Understand the Payment Terms and Agreements
Before buying on the internet from any company, make sure you understand the payment terms correctly, commitments and deals you are entering into with your supplier. Be clear on what, how and when the payments you agree to make with the supplier are. If there are any hidden charges, you must get to know them early enough.
Keep your Order Details
Print out your order details, receipts and other payment terms for reference purposes. For instance, you can use them to track your transactions and to reconcile your payments on your credit card statements.
Check your Credit Card Statement
After your transaction, get your credit card statements and make sure you check them properly to find out if they conform with the payments you made. If there are any payments you did not make, it’s advisable to contact your bank as well as your supplier for clarification.
Look for the Security Icon
As a safety measure in internet buying, one should look first for the security icon that usually is a small padlock found either at the top or bottom of your browser. Click on it to establish whether the supplier has a valid encryption certificate. Check for the details of the encryption certificate and the website address, which should start with https//.
Set your Browser to a High Level of Security Notification
Make sure your web browser, such as Internet Explorer, is set to the highest level of security notification. For instance, if you are an internet explorer user, you can do this by clicking on the Start button, then Control Panel, then Network and Internet and later on Internet Options. Under the Internet Options window, you will see options that include General, Security, Privacy, Content, Connections, Programs and Advanced. You will activate your security settings under Security.
Additionally, install an antivirus like Kaspersky Internet Security, which opens websites in Protected Browser to additionally secure your financial transactions against cybercriminals.
Update your Browser
Find out whether you are using a recent version of your web browser, which has better security features. If you do not have a new version of Internet Explorer, you can download it free of charge from Microsoft.
If you take into consideration the above tips, internet buying becomes safe. You will be able to protect yourself against fraudulent people, who are so many on the internet. I apply the same tactics, and I have never come across any problems.
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