Shop safe and smart online (page 1 of 2)

They make shopping an expedient stay-at-home affair. Of course, it takes time for most people to trust new technology, and some consumers still shy away from online shopping—oftentimes because they believe it's too risky.

But, the fact is, online shopping is actually quite safe. As today's savvy shopper understands, Web-based stores are essentially extensions of the physical marketplace. Therefore, safeguards afforded the regular consumer also protect the online shopper.

Likewise, the instincts and experiences you've developed as a brick-and-mortar consumer apply equally well to the Internet. Once you trust the technology—and yourself as an online shopper—most concerns fall away. Yet, the Internet is indeed a new and distinct medium for transacting business, and there are a few basic things you can learn to make your online shopping experience more secure.

Know your sellers
It may be a subconscious process, but when you're shopping at the mall or walking Main Street, you constantly make judgments about the people trying to sell you things. You evaluate the aesthetic quality and orderliness of their stores. You consider their track record, taking into account their reputation and the experiences you've had with them.

You interact face-to-face with owners, managers, and sales clerks, an invaluable way to gauge your comfort level with a potential seller. On the Web, these sorts of assessments are a bit more difficult. You can't look someone in the eye over the Internet. You can't see other patrons transacting business. And, you can't observe the state of a store's offices and storerooms. However, you can do a number of things to familiarize with a vendor and its reputation.

Check with the Better Business Bureau or the store's local Chamber of Commerce to get an objective appraisal of the company's business practices. Look for basic corporate information on the store's Web site. You should be able to find a vendor's physical address, phone number, and other essential corporate information. Sellers with nothing to hide will make all this information freely available.

If you're unable to learn who owns an online store, where its offices are located, or what its warranty and return policies are, you may want to avoid using that retailer. The bottom line is this. Only do business with online vendors you know and trust.


Use secure sites
Many Web-based stores have taken measures to make your online purchases as secure as possible. They use advanced encryption methods and validation processes to ensure your credit card number remains safe and to prevent others from fraudulently using your identity. However, not all sites employ these technologies, and it's up to you to make certain the online store you're using handles transactions securely.
There are several tell-tale signs a store has security measures in place.

If you're using Internet Explorer or Netscape, your browser will display a "locked" icon to show you're on a secure part of a site. Secure sites will also have a slightly modified Internet address. Rather than beginning with http://, the site's URL will begin with https://. The s means the sight is using a secure server. In addition, many stores launch a pop-up window to indicate when you're moving to a safe area. If none of these indicators are present, you may want to seek out an alternative retailer.

Pay by credit card
One of the most talked-about fears surrounding online shopping is credit card fraud.