Purchasing items on the Internet has become a popular way of shopping for
millions of consumers. However, news of hacker attacks and credit card theft
leaves many people wondering if Internet shopping is really safe.
While there are some instances of theft and hacking that do occur, in
general, Internet shopping is safe. There is a far greater risk of theft of
your credit card information when you use your credit card for payment at
establishments such as restaurants, gas stations and other stores.
However, there are a few tips that you should follow to reduce your risk
of falling victim to credit card and identity theft when shopping on the
Internet. Many of these tips are based on common sense.
Pay with credit cards
Remember to always pay with credit cards and not debit cards or personal
checks on-line. With a credit card, your exposure to loss is limited to $50,
whereas with a debit card your exposure to loss is $500, and in some cases,
unlimited. Never pay by personal check on-line because you will be providing
too much of your banking information. Check with your bank regarding your
protection from loss if your bank account is misused.
Even when you have adequate protections in place against misuse of your
account, your good credit can be harmed or destroyed by hackers. If this
occurs, it can take a substantial amount of time to repair all of your
banking and credit records and recover from your financial loss. Other
options for purchasing items over the Internet are slowly becoming
available, such as paying by digital currency, but these options are still
emerging.
Understand the return policy
Check the policy for returning merchandise and obtaining refunds whenever
you make a purchase on the Internet. Many Internet shopping sites do not
allow for refunds or returns. Read the vendor’s return policy and understand
it before ordering items on the Internet.
Avoid "free gifts"
Finally, never click on "free gifts" or other items to download except
from sources that you know and trust. This could result in a virus being
inadvertently downloaded onto your computer.
For more safety tips, please visit
www.safercerritos.com.
