6 Ways to Ensure Safe Online Shopping
Attractive discounts, fast processing and convenience are some of the features of online shopping. Youth hates standing in long queue for their turn to make payment. They opt for an easy option of visiting an online store and purchasing the required things. From grocery to clothes, movie tickets and home appliances, everything is available online. Just choose a store and get things at the doorstep.
Due to limited time and huge crowds at stores, people prefer to buy things online. They can also compare things and prices with the help of user reviews. Round-the-clock shopping facility makes it more convenient for buyers. They can shop anywhere: in the office, at home or even while traveling.
There are numerous such benefits of online shopping. But my concern here is safety of online buyers. Increased cases of internet frauds and wrong deliveries by online stores have raised a question about users' security. Delivery of dish wash soap in mobile phone's pack and delivery of a broken plastic watch for a transaction of Rs. 500 are just a few examples from numerous such cases. Besides this, phishing, identity theft and credit card frauds are some other internet frauds, online buyers can fall prey to.
On this page, I have included 6 simple ways to ensure safe shopping at online stores.
1. System Security
For online shopping, buyers need to share sensitive and confidential information like your name, address, credit card details etc. that might be risky at times. Malware in the system can help third parties steal personal information and misuse it. The best way to prevent such data stealing is to keep antivirus of the system updated and use the latest version of the browser. Updated antivirus protects you from spyware and other threats.
2. Payment Gateways
Some online stores have direct links with the banks for payments while some use third party payment option with payment gateways. At these stores the payment is made through third parties. It is better to opt for the second choice as these payment gateways have stringent security rules and don’t compromise with the confidential information.
3. Social Media presence
Don’t forget to check the presence of the online store on social media platforms. Just the huge list of followers or likes is not the proof of store’s popularity, as these can be easily bought. Check audience engagement, comments and sellers involvement in the online communication.
4. Read between the lines
Ignoring the privacy policy and terms & conditions of the online store is the common mistake, most of the online shoppers make. Some online stores declare in their policies about their right to sell or share customers' information with third parties. It is better to 'opt-out' from such stores.
Besides this, also read between the lines about return and refund policies of the stores. Every online store has its own return policy like some send their own representatives to pick the products for return while some want the buyers to bear courier charges for return. Make sure you confirm these.
5. Get Reference
It is always better to take a second opinion. You might like offers at a particular website, but what about the quality of products. Ask friends or colleagues, if they have used the site for shopping. You can also ask your friends about the reliable online stores from where they make their purchases.
6. Read User Reviews
Buyers don’t just give feedback for the product; they also review the online store and supplier. Take out time to read reviews and decide authenticity and reliability of the online store.
Online stores are really helpful for busy shoppers. You can get maximum value for your money spent on online shopping by playing a bit safe. These are just a few tips to make your online shopping a happy experience.
If you are a regular online shopper, you might have already used a few or all of these safe online shopping hacks.
Due to limited time and huge crowds at stores, people prefer to buy things online. They can also compare things and prices with the help of user reviews. Round-the-clock shopping facility makes it more convenient for buyers. They can shop anywhere: in the office, at home or even while traveling.
There are numerous such benefits of online shopping. But my concern here is safety of online buyers. Increased cases of internet frauds and wrong deliveries by online stores have raised a question about users' security. Delivery of dish wash soap in mobile phone's pack and delivery of a broken plastic watch for a transaction of Rs. 500 are just a few examples from numerous such cases. Besides this, phishing, identity theft and credit card frauds are some other internet frauds, online buyers can fall prey to.
On this page, I have included 6 simple ways to ensure safe shopping at online stores.
1. System Security
For online shopping, buyers need to share sensitive and confidential information like your name, address, credit card details etc. that might be risky at times. Malware in the system can help third parties steal personal information and misuse it. The best way to prevent such data stealing is to keep antivirus of the system updated and use the latest version of the browser. Updated antivirus protects you from spyware and other threats.
2. Payment Gateways
Some online stores have direct links with the banks for payments while some use third party payment option with payment gateways. At these stores the payment is made through third parties. It is better to opt for the second choice as these payment gateways have stringent security rules and don’t compromise with the confidential information.
3. Social Media presence
Don’t forget to check the presence of the online store on social media platforms. Just the huge list of followers or likes is not the proof of store’s popularity, as these can be easily bought. Check audience engagement, comments and sellers involvement in the online communication.
4. Read between the lines
Ignoring the privacy policy and terms & conditions of the online store is the common mistake, most of the online shoppers make. Some online stores declare in their policies about their right to sell or share customers' information with third parties. It is better to 'opt-out' from such stores.
Besides this, also read between the lines about return and refund policies of the stores. Every online store has its own return policy like some send their own representatives to pick the products for return while some want the buyers to bear courier charges for return. Make sure you confirm these.
5. Get Reference
It is always better to take a second opinion. You might like offers at a particular website, but what about the quality of products. Ask friends or colleagues, if they have used the site for shopping. You can also ask your friends about the reliable online stores from where they make their purchases.
6. Read User Reviews
Buyers don’t just give feedback for the product; they also review the online store and supplier. Take out time to read reviews and decide authenticity and reliability of the online store.
Online stores are really helpful for busy shoppers. You can get maximum value for your money spent on online shopping by playing a bit safe. These are just a few tips to make your online shopping a happy experience.
If you are a regular online shopper, you might have already used a few or all of these safe online shopping hacks.
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