Online shopping is perhaps one of the best inventions of the century: you find the best deals, get to browse online stores conveniently, then items are shipped to you. But, there are a few do’s and don’ts when it comes to online shopping that will make your experiences go smoothly.
Ship to a Post Office Box
We hear the stories all the time about people having their packages stolen from the front porch. I mean, the packages could be sitting outside the front door unattended for hours. There are new hi-tech home surveillance cameras people are placing at their front doors to watch for theft. But why spend money on expensive cameras when you can get an affordable P.O box to avoid all of this?
Look at West Bloomfield post office MI, for example, all you have to do is head to the post office and choose a post office box size. Pay the monthly fee and begin sending your packages to the P.O. box. Packages are held for you to pick up at your earliest convenience.
Use the Websites You Trust
When online shopping, using the same websites lowers your chances of being scammed. Sometimes, scammers will create website names similar to the website you frequent. For example, the real website name would be x.com, and the fraud could be x.net.
Shop On Secured Sites Only
A secured website always starts with “HTTPS” instead of “HTTP.” The “S” stands for “secured.” Meaning that the site has a secure sockets layer authentication installed, and confidential information transferred from the customer to the merchant will stay safe.
The padlock icon on the toolbar’s left side is another symbol that you should look for when looking for signs of SSL encryption. When using a website that does not have SSL encryption, information is in plain text, and hackers can access it.
Have Your Information Saved
Most cellphones give the option of saving your card information. When you’re online, enter the CSV three-digit code on the back of the card to continue with the purchase. When people are in close enough proximity to you, they can write down your card information. Never give out your full social security number or other very personal information online.
Check Your Bank Statements
Banks are getting better at detecting fraud, but do your due diligence when it comes to online purchases — checking bank statements ties back to shopping at the same websites. When you are checking your bank statements, it will be easier to spot the places that you know you did not authorize a payment. You can also have a bank account and card used only for online purchases. Bank statements are released every 30 days via the online portal or by mail.
Encrypt Your Wifi
Encrypting your internet connection is an excellent idea because, without a password, the network is accessible to anyone. When a person has this access, they also have access to your information. Those you give your password to should be trusted individuals.
A Final Note
If you follow these do’s and don’ts that you can make sure your shopping experience is safe, secure and you get all the deals to help you save money.
