Tips for Secure Store Shopping
Growth of the Internet has led to an astounding number of online stores. With just a click of the mouse you can shop for almost anything that you wish to buy without leaving your house. However, before you click, you should know how to ensure that you are shopping from a secure online store to prevent credit card fraud or identity theft.
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Shop from Secure Websites
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Online shopping security demands that the information you provide when paying for your purchases should be encrypted. This prevents computer hackers from getting your information en route to the vendor's website. An "s" added to the "http" portion of the web address indicates that a website is secure. You can also check if the website has a closed padlock icon on the lower right corner of the web page. An unbroken key icon is also a good sign.
Shop Only from Reputable Online Stores
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With the proliferation of online shops, it can be difficult to know which is legitimate or not. The best thing to do is to investigate the store. You can check the Internet yellow pages, check with the Better Business Bureau or call the customer hotline listed on the website and make inquiries to determine if the store is a legitimate one. You should also read their FAQs, terms and conditions, and privacy policy.
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Separate Credit Card for Online Shopping
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The credit card is the best way to pay for online purchases as you will be protected by the Fair Credit Billing Act in case of disputes. It is recommended that you get a credit card that you will use solely for online purchases to make it easier to track purchases and detect erroneous charges. The Restore Online Shoppers' Confidence Act will protect you from companies that sell consumer credit card numbers to third parties.
Provide Only the Basic Information
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Reputable online stores will only ask you for the required information like your name, address, credit card number and contact number for them to process your online purchase. Some stores include additional questions in their purchase forms to include you in their targeted marketing lists. If you are not comfortable with the rest of the questions, some of which will even be marked with an asterisk to indicate required fields, do not continue with your purchase.
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References
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