In the run up to Christmas , this is the busiest time for ecommerce retailers as we all like to shop and browse from home or work (on break time !) Indeed Cyber Monday, the day when ecommerce sites are predicted to be the busiest is this year on Monday 28th November.
I often come across some people who are worried about providing their personal information online in particular credit card details. So if you are concerned I have 6 top tips to help you stay safe online;
What is the site Name?
We would always check the website spelling and the URL, quite often scam sites will use a URL which is very similar to the actual brand/business you want.
Are there any site reviews?
This is one we love, why not Google the company name and see what comes up, you can guarantee unless it is a new business someone somewhere will have had something to say about the business, good or bad.
What is the contact address?
If a site doesn’t have an actual postal address on it, and I don’t mean a PO Box don’t use them – simple, for me if they want my address but won’t give me theirs I ask myself what are they trying to hide?
Look for the Padlock or secure way of paying
When you come to pay for your items, check that the website has a secure way of paying either on the site or by third party – PayPal, SagePay etc…. When you complete the form with your details the web address should change to be ‘https://’ – the S signifies its secure, and you should have a padlock symbol.
Use your head when paying
If you order is over £100 then pay by Credit Card simply because you are protected by section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act (1974) and this give you as the consumer significant protection if there is a problem. If the order is under £100 then use Visa so again in the unlikely event of a problem you can use the Visa chargeback plan.
Keep the Receipt
When you have paid, keep the proof – setup a separate folder in your email for the confirmation of order emails
Follow these tips and they should help you avoid the scammer and shop happily and safely online.
When you have paid, keep the proof – setup a separate folder in your email for the confirmation of order emails.
Follow these tips and I don’t think you will go far wrong, don’t forget though the golden rule – if an offer sounds too good to be true it probably is!!!
