| There's no doubt about it, shopping online is easy, | | | | is secure. To be safe, always look at the plural |
| saves time, and can actually help you save | | | | URL before typing in your credit card information. |
| money. Take for instance, an out of print book | | | | By 'plural URL' I'm referring to the URL that |
| for a special someone on your holiday gift list. If | | | | appears at the top of the merchant's checkout |
| you can't find it in a local secondhand book shop, | | | | page, the "http" in the URL should automatically |
| Amazon and eBay are great places to try. | | | | switch to "https." Furthermore, a 'key 'or 'closed |
| These days many online merchants accept both | | | | padlock' icon should also appear at the top of |
| credit and debit cards. I happen to believe credit | | | | page to signify that your personal information will |
| cards are safer. Credit cards have less 'hassle' | | | | be either encrypted or scrambled. If you don't |
| potential should unauthorized charges end up on | | | | see the added 'S' in the URL or notice any |
| your monthly statement. | | | | security icons, then you can't be sure the |
| The fear with using your debit card online is that | | | | merchant has a secure server. If this is the case, |
| your bank account could be overdrawn while | | | | shopping with this merchant isn't worth the risk. |
| you're in the process of disputing fraudulent | | | | I'd go elsewhere - no matter how good the deal |
| charges. | | | | is. |
| Another common online payment option is to use | | | | On a final note, never shop via shared computers |
| a reputable third-party escrow service like PayPal. | | | | e.g. the one at your local library or Internet cafe. |
| Its buyer protection feature helps guarantee your | | | | Computers available to multiple users aren't safe |
| purchase and comes at no additional cost to | | | | for online purchases as your personal information |
| buyers. | | | | can easily be stolen before it's encrypted. |
| When shopping online, it's important to shop | | | | Do's: |
| smart. Always err on the side of caution and stick | | | | *Make sure your computer has a good firewall to |
| to online merchants you know and trust. | | | | block potential intruders. |
| Big name sites like Amazon.ca are leaders in the | | | | *Read and understand the shipping and return |
| world of online shopping. They built their reputation | | | | policies BEFORE you make a purchase. |
| by putting their name on the line and by offering | | | | *Print out a copy of purchase receipt or |
| customers a safe and secure place to shop. That | | | | confirmation email. Place receipts in a folder and |
| said don't let fear (or size of the company) stop | | | | file in a safe and handy place. |
| you from buying from smaller merchants who | | | | Don'ts: |
| offer great deals or specialty merchandise. | | | | *Never shop online from a computer that doesn't |
| The key to dealing with lesser known merchants | | | | have up-to-date anti-virus software. |
| is to do your homework. Explore the merchant's | | | | *Avoid buying anything that's promoted via |
| website in detail. Look into the company's privacy | | | | unsolicited email even if it looks legit. |
| policy and ask them to send you a catalogue. If | | | | *Never do business with merchants who ask you |
| an email address is the only source of contact | | | | to forward a money order or wire your payment. |
| information, be wary. Is there a phone number? If | | | | *Steer clear of deals that sound too good to be |
| so, give the number a call. Did a real person | | | | true e.g. an iPod Touch for $25. Personal |
| answer or did the call go straight to voice mail? | | | | information can easily be stolen if you fall for |
| Anyone can set up a voice mail system. | | | | deals which are in fact, too good to be true. |
| Also, encryption doesn't necessarily mean the site | | | | |