Security Techniques 2009: Safety Tactics for Online Shopping
Safety first…
In 2008, online consumer spending was $180,5 billion. More and more people are attracted to the ease of online shopping and are spending higher amounts. Unfortunately, the chances of becoming a victim of Internet fraud are also increasing. The Internet National Fraud Center Watch reported that the average loss to fraud victims for just the first six months of 2008 was $4,789.
This is compared to the $2,500 average for all of 2007. Complaints relating to general merchandise purchases (goods never received or misrepresented) accounted for 30% of Internet fraud complaints, and auction purchases (goods never received or misrepresented) topped the list at 44%.
While many e-commerce Websites are reputable and have taken the necessary safety precautions to protect you, it never hurts to always proceed cautiously. If you are making an online purchase consider these easy steps:
1. Use only one credit card, preferably with a low credit limit, when making online purchases. Avoid using an ATM or debit card.
2. Be wary of unsolicited offers by sellers. The Internet National Fraud Information Center Watch reported that email, as a method of contact by Internet scammers was up 22% in 2007.While the offer may be legitimate, spammers like to use this tactic to side-step reputable sites that provide consumer protection for online purchases.
3. Use only reputable e-commerce websites that list a street address and telephone number in case you need to contact them directly.
4. Read the website’s privacy policy. Some websites may reserve the right to sell/give your information to a third party. Check the document to see if they allow an opportunity to “opt-out” of receiving special offers from third-party vendors or for permission to share your personal information.
5. Check for a lock symbol in the status bar at the bottom of your Web browser window. Also, do not provide your personal information if the website address doesn’t start with “https” (a sign that the site is using a secure server).
6. Choose only verified sellers. Check to see if the vendor is a verified member of a reputable third party such as the Better Business Bureau, VeriSign, or Guardian eCommerce. These third-party sites help to ensure online consumers will be protected when shopping or conducting e-commerce transactions.
7. Check that the delivery date posted is reasonable. If you have not dealt with the vendor on a regular basis, be wary of any Website that states the shipment will be delayed 20 or more days. Delivery dates of 7-10 days are more common.
8. Keep a paper trail of all online transactions. Print out a hard copy of the transaction and keep it in a file for future reference.
9. Be wary of website offers that just sound too good to be true. The Internet is littered with get rich quick scams and false advertising claims. Investigate all claims thoroughly before proceeding.
10. If you do not receive what you paid for, and the vendor will not return your emails or calls, contact your state’s Department of Consumer Affairs for further assistance.
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This one is a MUST-SEE article for women, lol
for those who are crazy abt shopping, who just cant stop buying and buying and buying… should save this link and show to my wife before she spends all my visa-money 
muy bueno, amigos! liked it very much. I often do online shopping, this certanly will help me. good
well, well, well… what we have here… Safety Tactics for Online Shopping. Looks nice. I mentioned that Zakk made great progress with these Techniques 2009 series. That was really really really good idea. These series are more than 4 months old here, appreciate you patience.
It’s strange because two days ago i wrote on my blog about the main concern of US citizens regarding security. And this one was credit card fraud. The truth is that this is a sensible subject and there are some security measures we must take before revealing our information over the internet. If you are interested you can see my post also: http://www.allanonymity.com/2009/04/07/credit-card-fraud-%E2%80%93-main-concern-in-us/
It’s strange because 2 days ago i was writing about the same thing on my blog. It seem that the main concern for US citizens related to security is about credit card fraud. You can also check my blog for more details about security concerns.http://www.allanonymity.com/2009/04/07/credit-card-fraud-–-main-concern-in-us/
techniques are just great!
I believe those numbers are real.
Frauds are everywhere. We should keep all sensitive data out of PC, because it’s too easy to steal it
If you say it, then you mean it, if you mean it, then it’s good
good you compiled these tips into one full article. So it’s easy to follow. well done.
techniques 2009 rocks!!!
Thanks guys! I’m happy you liked this article
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Yooo..
I kno it has nothing to do with what you wrote, but have you ever heard of http://www.bluestickers.info/ringtones.php . They seems to promise free ringtones
PS. Dont be an ass, this is NOT spam
Hey, great post, very well written. You should try Billeo . It’s VeriSign and Truste certified – which means your personal data is safe and secure. It’s got some cool features that help you pay bills, shop online and manage passwords. It also reminds you when your bills are due. Moreover it’s free!
There’s only one right solution for safe online shopping and it’s Paypal, I guess. Yes, fees are kind of a high for those who’s selling, but people trust PP more than other payment processors or systems.
Hi,
Thanks for sharing these tips. I’m really afraid of online scams. Dont want my CC data to be stolen.
Thanks,
James
Hi there,
Thanks for sharing the info. So many CC scams and frauds on the internet right now.
But on the other hand – spyware and viruses are the main tools for getting sensitive data from PCs.
actually good posts for year 2009, two years passed and info remains interesting.
It’s very exiting to find your http://www.massmailsoftware.com blog.
What a striking post! I am just starting out in community management/marketing media and trying to learn how to do it well – resources like this blog are quite helpful. As our company is based in the U.S., it’s all a bit new to us. The example above is something that I worry about as well, how to show your own real enthusiasm and share the fact that your product is useful in that case.
Hey,
This is a inquiry for the webmaster/admin here at http://www.massmailsoftware.com.
Can I use some of the information from this blog post above if I give a backlink back to this website?
Thanks,
William
Yes you can use materials from this blog if you put backlink
Hi – I am definitely glad to find this. great job!
Thanks this has helped me a lot! Im sure your post’s are one of the best out there. always so accurate.
Im sure your post’s are one of the best out there! always so acurate!
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