Tips on how to ensure you’re shopping safely online
The worldwide web has entirely revolutionised the way that we shopped. Once upon a time, we had to venture out for food and fashion alike, but these times are no more. Nowadays you can virtually stroll up and down the aisles of your local Tesco and browse, or look at the local high street fashion bargains without even having to leave the comfort of your own home – perfect on a typical rainy, British day. However, a lot of people, particularly in older generations, are reluctant to shop online, and rightly so. It’s a dangerous game, and if you don’t know what you’re looking for, unfortunately not everybody can be trusted. If you want to start doing some shopping online, but you’re a little unsure, here are some tips on how to make sure you’re doing online shopping, the safe way.
Use Familiar and Trusted Websites
The first step to shopping safely online, is to ensure that you always use familiar and trusted website. Whether you want a new jumper or you’re searching for cash house buyers in the UK, always do your research and make sure the page you’re buying from is from a well renowned and recognised website.
If you really want to play it safe, then you can’t really go wrong with well-known websites, such as Amazon for example. Amazon is such a perfect example, because it’s used worldwide by millions of people, it’s well renowned and you can buy literally anything on there. No matter what it is you’re looking for, whether it be garden utensils or new trainers, Amazon is likely to have it in stock. You can even go Prime, and experience automatic next day delivery for a small price each month. Perfect for those Christmas presents you’d forgotten all about buying!
If They Ask You to Overshare, Don’t Trust Them
Unfortunately as safe technology becomes more and more advanced, so do the scammers that make it necessary. If you’re making a transaction with someone, then there are only certain things they need to know. If you think they’re asking you too many questions, then chances are they probably are.
Of course, sometimes you will be required to put things in like your address for delivery and your long card number for transactions, but before you do, make sure it’s necessary. If they start asking for things like your social security number, your sort code and pin, or even your birthday, chances are they could be looking to delve deeper into your accounts. Be vigilant when it comes to sharing, unless you know that person. Even if they seem nice remember, that a stranger on the internet is still a stranger.
Check Your Statements Regularly
Now, we’re all guilty of neglecting to check our bank statements on a regular basis, due to the fact they tend to come through monthly anyway – so what’s the point? Well, there absolutely is a point, and an important one at that.
When you’re regularly making online transactions, it’s important to check them on your account. Even if you don’t suspect anything at all, it’s good to make sure that the right amount and quantity have been taken. Banks are pretty good at this sort of stuff, because so long as they have your right details, you’ll get a call or text from them as soon as they suspect there’s any sort of suspicious or out of the ordinary going on in your account. That could be that your card has been used in a different part of the world or country, or that some huge transactions have been made. Even if it was you by chance, it’s better to be safe than to be sorry.
Make Sure Your Passwords are Strong
Last of all, but certainly not least, make sure that all of your online passwords, whether they’re for shopping or not, are strong.
It can be incredibly tempting, especially for those who tend to be slightly forgetful, to make every single password the same – but this is actually a bad idea. The problem is, if all of your passwords are the same, then it only takes a hacker or scammer to figure out one of your passwords in order to access all of your information – and if they’re good at what they do, then they will.
So take the online advice, and include capital letters, numbers and figures. Above all, make sure all of your passwords are unique. Even if you have to write them down on a post it note and keep it in your kitchen drawer, it’ll be beneficial in the long run.
