Safety Tips for Online Shopping

Online shopping is one of the best ways to find great deals, compare prices, find bargains and save a lot of time and energy from the usual shopping in stores. But as its popularity has increased, so have the risks, with more and more people trying to scam you out of your money or steal your card details.

Thus, it pays little safety measures to ensure that before you hit that order button or call that company!

Also, if you are looking for a roofing company like Excel Roofers, these tips can help too!

Use Familiar Websites

Start at a trusted site. Search results can be rigged to lead you astray, especially when you drift past the first few pages of links. If you know the site, chances are it’s less likely to be a rip-off.

We all know Amazon.com carries everything under the sun; likewise, just about every major retail outlet has an online store, from Target to Best Buy to Home Depot. Beware of misspellings or sites using a different top-level domain (.net instead of .com, for example)—those are the oldest tricks in the book. Yes, sales on these sites might look enticing, but that’s how they trick you into giving up your info

Don’t Overshare

No online shopping e-tailer needs your Social Security number or your birthday to do business. However, if crooks get them and your credit card number, they can do a lot of damage. The more scammers know, the easier it is to steal your identity. When possible, default to giving up as little personal data as possible.

Check Statements Regularly

Don’t wait for your bill to come at the end of the month. Go online regularly during the holiday season and look at electronic statements for your credit card, debit card, and checking accounts. Look for any fraudulent charges, even originating from payment sites like PayPal and Venmo.

Read Reviews Online

If you see nothing but positive feedback and can’t tell if the writers are legitimate customers, follow your instincts. If nothing else, make absolutely sure you’ve got a concrete address and a working phone number for the seller. If things go bad, you have a place to take your complaint.

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