Ian Harvey
Online shopping has forced retailers to change the way they do business and has changed the way the consumer behaves. unfortunately, it has also lured criminals to exploit the consumers shopping online. However, we can avoid being victimized by these criminals with a little common sense. Assuming we recover from the recession by next year, consumers are expected to spend more than $35 billion in online purchases for goods, services, and downloads.
Here are 5 tips to protect yourself while shopping online:
1) Verify the companies you shop with to see if they really exist. make sure the site offer fraud protection like they do at eBay. Don't be surprised if the Louis Vuitton purse you're looking at for $80 is a knock off.
2) Why not use Payal instead of using your credit card directly to protect yourself from fraud. Never forget where you place your credit cards and upgrade your credit card's security with protective services like VISA's Verified and Mastercard's SecureCode. These programs will set-up additional PIN for your credit card. Never share your PIN code with anyone.
3) If you're a regular online shopper and your credit card has a chip, why not get a one-time PIN generator that you can connect to your computer's USB port. This will generate a new and unique PIN everytime you use it. So if your card was ever compromised, your credit card number will be of no use to hackers. Paypal uses this similar device in their system. It will only cost you $10.
4) Do not trust any trial offers without reading the fine print scrupulously or you might be trapped in a contract that accrues automatic monthly payments that are difficult to cancel. You can't rely on your credit card company to step in circumstance like this because they'll use the credit card holder's agreement reasoning that you entered in to a contract.
5) Never keep a written record of your PIN code for your debit or credit card. Especially, never write it on the back of your card. It might be funny but some people do it everytime. Be smart and never shop online while using a public wireless network at the coffee shop or at the internet cafe. Public networks are often hacked. The guy sipping latte a couple of tables from you could be hacking your information.
VIA Globe and Mail
Keyword: Credit card
