10 tips to help you shop more safely online

When shopping online, finding websites with sketchy interfaces, suspicious website addresses (URLs), or unbelievable discount offers requires you to always be alert and vigilant.

Remember, scammers often use sophisticated tactics to prey on consumers’ desire for bargains. For example, a website that sells items at prices that are too low for the market, or an email that promises to win a prize if you provide your personal information, can be red flags.

According to the FBI, in 2022, the Internet Crime Complaint Center recorded nearly 12,000 cases of US users reporting fraud related to non-payment or non-delivery of products after ordering. The loss figure of more than 73 million USD shows the seriousness of this problem.

Fraudsters often take advantage of the desire to buy cheap goods or trust in fake brands to commit fraud. Therefore, equipping yourself with the necessary knowledge to identify and avoid falling into these situations is extremely necessary.

1. Only shop on popular or familiar websites

For a safe and convenient online shopping experience, prioritize choosing large and reputable e-commerce websites such as Amazon, Target, Best Buy, Shopee, etc. These websites have been trusted by millions of people and have proven to be safe. Remember, overly attractive deals from strange websites often contain many risks. Be careful with websites with complicated URL addresses, misspellings, or using strange domain names.

2. When in doubt, check if the site uses a secure protocol

If you’re not sure if the site you’re shopping from is legitimate, look at your browser’s address bar. Don’t buy anything online from a site that doesn’t display a padlock icon near the URL. The padlock icon indicates that the site has installed Secure Sockets Layer (SSL). This means that your data transmission is more secure than it would be on an unencrypted site.

An easy way to tell if a website uses SSL is to check the URL. If the URL starts with "https://"; instead of "http://";, which means that the website is secured with SSL. Google Chrome even marks websites without SSL as “not secure” to warn users. Using “https” has become the standard for all websites, especially those that require personal information.

3. Research the seller carefully before buying.

Before you decide to buy from a new website, take the time to research the seller. Use search engines and read reviews from previous customers. This will help you spot red flags, avoid scams, and better protect your wallet.

While online reviews are a valuable source of information, you need to be cautious and know how to analyze them. Not all reviews are trustworthy. Many sellers have used tricks to create fake positive reviews to deceive consumers.

If you only see perfect reviews or no negative reviews at all, be cautious. Try to find reviews that are detailed, specific, and from different users to get a more objective view.

Before you make a purchase, make sure you have the seller’s full contact information, including a physical address, phone number, and email. This will make it easier for you to contact them if there are any issues, such as an item not as described, a delay in delivery, or a return. Having clear contact information will help you feel more secure when shopping online.

Remember, a little caution can save you from unnecessary hassles related to late deliveries, poor quality products or even losing money.

4. May lie or omit personal information on purchase forms

There's no reason an online retailer should need to know your birth date, middle name, social security number, or any other personal information beyond your payment method and shipping address. Feel free to lie if a retailer asks you to fill out that kind of data to complete your transaction.

Your personal information is valuable. The less personal information you disclose, the less likely it is that someone will use it to steal your identity. Remember, no system is completely secure from cyberattacks, so limiting the amount of personal information you share is one of the most effective ways to protect yourself.

5. Don't use your debit card to shop online

When shopping online, choosing a secure payment method is very important. Debit cards, although convenient, are risky. If your card information is stolen, criminals can drain all the money in your account. Therefore, to protect your assets, you should prioritize using credit cards, mobile payment apps or e-wallets, payment methods with higher security and more user protection features.

6. Pay by phone at the store

Paying with your smartphone has become pretty standard in brick-and-mortar stores, and it’s safer than using a credit card. Using a mobile payment app like Apple Pay or Google Pay means you’ve authenticated your identity with your device, so no one else can claim to be you and steal your data or money. Plus, you’re keeping card fraud at bay.

7. Be careful with gift card transactions

Buying and selling gift cards requires caution. Only buy gift cards from reputable vendors and double-check the information on the card before making a transaction. Buying gift cards from strangers or on untrusted platforms can result in losing money. Remember, once a gift card is lost or stolen, it is very difficult to get it back.

8. Ensure data security when using public Wi-Fi networks

When connecting to public Wi-Fi networks, prioritize choosing verified and trusted networks like those available at popular cafes, restaurants, and libraries.

Avoid connecting to unknown, free networks, as they can be entry points for hackers to steal your personal information. For optimal data protection, use a virtual private network (VPN).

VPN is like a strong protective shield, encrypting all data transmitted and received, creating a secure tunnel between your device and the online world. Thanks to that, your personal information will be protected from prying eyes and cyber attacks, giving you peace of mind when accessing the internet at public places.

9. Install and use security applications

Password managers are a great way to help you protect your personal information. With this manager, you can create strong, unique passwords for each account, ensuring absolute security. In addition, password managers also help you automatically fill in login information and addresses, saving time and minimizing the risk of incorrect data entry.

For more comprehensive protection, you should regularly update your antivirus software. Additionally, investing in a high-end security suite will protect you from other types of threats, such as spam, phishing emails, and website spoofing attacks. These types of attacks often impersonate reputable organizations to trick you into providing personal or banking information.

However, installing security software is just the first step. To effectively protect your devices, you need to keep it updated. Malware is always changing and evolving, so keeping it up to date is crucial to preventing new threats from emerging.

10. If you are scammed, speak up.

Being scammed while shopping online is something no one wants, but don't worry too much. Instead of silently suffering, be bold and speak up. Complain directly to the seller, report the incident to the relevant authorities. This will not only help you regain your rights but also help warn others to avoid making similar mistakes.