'Tis the season to be shopping for great deals and cheap buys!
We are just a few days away before we find ourselves under the mistletoe while we fill ourselves with some good old eggnog. But of course, the spirit of Christmas is all about giving, or simply put. The Christmas tree is not complete without the gifts underneath!
The online market has no shortage of great deals for the holidays, and while it may be tempting to splurge mindlessly on online sales, it is important to ensure that you are still safe so that your Christmas will remain in good spirits.
There are various risks to online shopping, such as parcel fraud, identity theft, phishing scams, and many more. In fact, the US FTC (Federal Trade Commission) logged fraud reports in 2020 alone, amounting to $3.3 billion in customer losses.
Luckily, we have collated some of the best-recommended tips to ensure that you don't lose money or your identity through online shopping.
Read also: Why Online Marketplaces Will Dominate Our Future
Tips For Safe Online Shopping
1. Strictly Buy on Online Stores that Use "HTTP"
This is by far the simplest and most important thing to reminder when you shop online. According to NordVPN, HTTPS indicates that the online store has taken a significant step in securing your personal data since it is covered by basic TLS encryption.
Simply type in your search bar "https://" and the name of the online store to see if it has this encryption.
2. Consider Using Paypal
Extra protection, such as two-factor authentication, is also very important for online consumers because it notifies your phone number and email address to verify your transaction. This also involves security questions sometimes.
According to Money Helper, online buyers must be considered using e-money apps such as PayPal when paying for their orders because it does not have to let you give out your card details.
3. Less Information Means More Protection
Always remember that giving out less information on your online transaction means more protection. Simply put, stay away from oversharing.
As noted by PCMag, online stores do not need your birth date, social security number, and other personal information. Major e-stores can also be hacked, so the less you give, the more protection you gain.
4. Review the Merchant and Customer Reviews
Customer reviews can be tricky since some merchant stores have ways of encouraging their customers with freebies in exchange for a five-star review of their product. But nonetheless, customer reviews are still worth checking to ensure a product's legitimacy.
But more importantly, search for reviews not just within the online store but also through other online sites. You can simply search the merchant's name in google to see other reviews.
5. Do Not Entertain Email Links
Phishing is one of the common ways where scammers can steal your credit card information. According to NordVPN, email links for products are a huge red flag.
Scammers usually send tempting offers or discounts that include a fake URL that directs you to the order page. If the email link asks you to give out your password, credit card number, or any personal information, you should ignore it and mark it as a scam.
6. Do Not Shop Using a Public Wi-Fi
Never shop online via a public Wi-Fi network. The ideal location for scammers and hackers to conduct their business is through public Wi-Fi because these networks usually have weak security.
7. Create Strong and Unique Passwords for Online Store Accounts
If you have multiple online store accounts, make sure that you do not use the same password. Avoid using one password for various accounts, as much as possible you must have different passwords for each one.
But most importantly, you must ensure that you have unique passwords for your e-store accounts. Read this article to learn more about how you can strengthen your passwords.
8. Avoid Too Good to be True Offers
Always be smart whenever you shop online. If an offer is too good to be true, it is likely a red flag. Always have a healthy dose of skepticism online to make sure that your Christmas online shopping will remain in good spirits!
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