Shoppers love the digital world, but while the endless variety and convenience is highly appealing, it is not without its dangers. Online shopping scams have cost a lot of people a lot of money, but the good news is there are ways to ensure that your online shopping activity is safe and secure.
One of the simplest things you can do is make sure that the website you are on is secure. Make sure it has an “https://” address and that the web browser displays a padlock, as this usually means that the website’s veracity is verified.
If you are making use of a mobile app, you should make certain that you have downloaded the official app used by the retailer in question from Google Play or the Apple App Store.
Avoid doing Internet shopping on public computers such as in Internet kiosks and libraries as you do not know who might be watching and those computers are much more likely to be tampered with than your own home computer.
Make certain that adverts and emails from retailers are legitimate. Scammers use emails to lure victims onto fake versions of retailers’ websites in order to learn personal details. If you are unsure, just go to the real website directly rather than clicking on the ad or links in the email.