Basic Online Shopping Safety
By Janelle Orth
Winter 2007-08
Military life means often trying to find the things you need in a
This challenge has conditioned many military families to shop online. Online shopping helps you save time, makes it easier to comparison-shop and provides more opportunities to find good buys on new and used items. An element of risk comes with the added convenience, of course, but knowing some basic “rules of the road” can help you wisely shop the information highway.
Identity theft, in which someone gains access to your bank or credit card information, is a serious and growing problem. First and foremost, then: Make certain you are on a secure website before submitting personal information of any kind. Look for the “s” in the “https:” of the web address; the “s” indicates that the site is secure. You should also find a locked padlock icon at the bottom of your computer screen. You may not see either of these until you are at a point where personal information is required, but do not fail to look for them before sending the information.
Shopping around means lots of user IDs and passwords, so keep a list. Make your user ID easy to remember, but your password should be more complex. Combine numbers with letters and make user IDs at least eight characters long. Don’t reuse the same information for all sites. Password information used for your banking, such as your mother’s maiden name, should not be used as a security question for other sites. In addition, limit the information you give about yourself to “required” information. There is no need to volunteer your hobbies, interests or household income.
Shopping from reputable and familiar businesses also is recommended, since these firms are more likely to take the considerable efforts needed to protect your information.
Check the shipping charges before completing your transaction. Many online businesses are joining forces; re-read the web address as you shop through a site, and you may find that you have navigated into a linked business. It may be easier to buy music, DVDs, shoes and dog food from the same website, but you may wind up paying extra shipping if the items come from different locations. That $5.99 DVD isn’t such a great deal when you are paying $11.95 to ship it.
You should not use a debit card, check card, or ATM card for online purchases, because it risks allowing access to your entire bank account. Use a credit card, since you are protected under the Fair Credit Billing Act, and charges can be disputed. Some experts suggest a secondary credit card, with a small charge limit and no annual fee, for online purchasing. Another option is a “virtual account number” charge card, available through Citibank or Discover. This is a free service to account holders and easy to use.
Never use links to businesses sent through unsolicited e-mail. “Phishing” is a technique used by criminals to acquire sensitive information. When you click on a link in one of these spoofed e-mails, it takes you to an unsecured website. When you type in your personal information, it records the keystrokes and the criminal has access to your account.
Keep track of your purchases by noting the store, date of purchase, confirmation number, items purchased, prices and expected date of delivery. Check your credit card transactions carefully, and call the billing department right away with any concerns.
One final tip: Be wary of “free 30-day trial” offers that take your credit card number. The company making the offer automatically will charge its annual or monthly fee unless you cancel prior to the end of the 30-day period.
Happy shopping, and don’t forget to log off before leaving a secure site.
# # #
Janelle Orth is a military spouse in the Accredited Financial Counselor program of the Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education.
# # #
What About Auction Websites?
Understand how web-based auctions work. Familiarize yourself with the rules and policies of the auction site as well as the terms (warranties, return and refund policy, shipping and handling, etc.) of the seller’s items on which you want to bid.
Double-check prices. Whether the product is being sold as new or used, be suspicious of prices that look too good to be true. Comparison-shop before you buy.
Find and read the privacy policy. Know the information the seller is gathering from you, how it will be used, and how you can stop the process. If a site does not have a privacy policy posted, you may not want to do business there.
Make sure the Internet connections are secure. Before you give your payment information, look for the various icons that indicate the use of security software. Also, use the safest way to pay on the Internet: your credit card.
Source: www.bbbonline.org
