The top tips for shopping safely online

Posted by admindgs on December 23, 2009 · Leave a Comment

When shopping online, safety comes first. The internet offers wondrous opportunities to buy products and services from all four corners of the globe, however care should be taken to ensure that no problems occur due to shopping online. Below are five top tips to ensure a smooth and untroubled transaction:

Keep your PC updated with the latest security software

One of the biggest problems with shopping online can be the danger to your PC/laptop as well as information contained within it. Viruses and phishing websites can infiltrate your computer and either infect it or obtain personal information from it. This issue can be eradicated by ensuring that your security software is up to date. This includes anti virus and firewall software, both of which will protect you whilst online. Free versions are available through a variety of websites such as AVG.com.

When shopping online, it is best to avoid public computers that are used by others as well as public wireless connections. Both are insecure in several ways and as such pose a risk when entering personal information.

Check the website is genuine and secure

The proliferation of websites that abound the internet has unfortunately led to numerous scam websites that copy a genuine websites details to try to hoodwink the consumer. One sure fire way of identifying a genuine website is by its URL or web address, this is one element that rogue websites cannot duplicate.

Many scam websites originate from countries outside of the EU and the US, which can have different laws, therefore check it is a legitimate website by checking its country of origin as well as any contact information and customer service numbers. If there are no contact details, avoid!

When it comes to online purchasing, ensure that the website uses an encrypted secure online payment method. This will be identified by the web address showing an ’s’ within the start of the web URL, such as ‘https’ at the start of the address. In addition a padlock or unbroken link may be displayed.

Is the company and product genuine?

When purchasing online, there is usually no other form of contact, this can make it difficult to ascertain if the company and products being sold are genuine.

One method of checking a company’s validity is to review their terms and conditions, returns policy as well as any contact information in addition to checking its country of origin.

When it comes to product authenticity, use common sense, if the product seems unbelievably cheap, then the chances are that it is counterfeit. An excellent article available on how to spot counterfeit goods is located here:

http://newsyndication.com/articles/2009/12/17/top-ten-tips-on-how-to-spot-counterfeit-designer-clothing.htm

What is the best method of payment for online purchases?

If using an online store, the best methods are either online payment method such as PayPal or a credit card. Both of these methods provide valuable buyer protection which can make a significant difference. If you have several credit cards, utilise the one with the lowest credit limit. The problem with using a debit card is that it is usually is tied to a personal or business bank account.

Once ordered keep details of the order and track its progress

Print out the relevant order confirmation and returns policy as well as any additional terms and conditions. Write down the relevant contact details and any contact numbers, should the need arise.

Check your credit card statement, many now offer online statements which means you don’t have to wait for the statement to arrive before checking.

The above top five tips, if followed will ensure you are protected against fraudulent or counterfeit issues. Many websites such as http://www.stylesukdesignerclothing.co.uk are genuine and offer an excellent means of buying goods at discounted prices as well as items that are not available elsewhere. By utilising the tips mentioned, you can be assured of a pleasant and safe online shopping experience.

For a huge range of genuine designer clothing visit http://www.stylesukdesignerclothing.co.uk