Shopping is now easier than ever with our ability to make almost any type of purchase without even visiting a store. From clothes to furniture and even groceries, items of all kinds can be sent right to your door with just a bank account and a shipping address. And while this is awfully convenient, there’s also the potential for financial vulnerabilities when purchasing via the Internet. So to help those looking to keep a tight grip on their money and the integrity of their financial information, here are three things to think about for making safer online purchases.
Make Sure You Can Trust The Business and Website
When you make purchases online, you give up a lot of your personal and sensitive information. This can include your full name, billing information, your physical address and more. Knowing this, making sure you’re purchasing from trusted businesses and websites should be of the utmost importance to you. If you’re not already familiar with the company, do some research to see if they’re legitimate. Lexy Savvides, a contributor to CNet.com, also recommends only making purchases when the website address is secure, which can be shown through lock symbols as well.
Be Careful With Wi-Fi Hotspots
Online shopping can be an easy way to find the best deals on certain items, especially if you’re able to check the price at the store first and then make the purchase online if the price is better. However, you should always be careful when making online purchases using Wi-Fi hotspots that aren’t securely protected. StaySafeOnline.org suggests avoiding logging into accounts that contain sensitive information, like online banking, email, and shopping carts if you’re using public Wi-Fi because it’s easier to hack into your information through these types of connections.
Think Twice Before Using A Debit Card
While it may seem like it doesn’t matter what type of payment form you use when making an online purchase, some are actually more secure than others. According to WeLiveSecurity.com, credit cards usually have more protection for them than debit cards when doing online shopping. This is partially because using a credit card isn’t actually taking away any money you actually have. Credit cards also have more of a limit for the amount you can spend each day and are generally watched more closely for fraudulent charges. Knowing this, try to avoid using your debit card for making online purchases if you can. Instead, opt for your credit card or a payment service like PayPal.
If you’re not careful, the ease and convenience of online shopping can be overshadowed by the potential for financial ruin. To keep this from happening to you, use the tips mentioned above to ensure the safety of your sensitive financial information on the Internet.
