Thursday, December 17, 2009

Online Shopping Blog - Security Tips to Keep in Mind

The best part about shopping through an online shopping blog is that today almost anything can be bought on the net. From groceries to vacation packages, everything is available on the net at the moment.

However, as with everything there are risks associated with purchasing goods on the net. A smart shopper always takes precautions while buying goods at a regular retail store. Similarly a shopper should always keep certain things in mind while purchasing goods on an e-commerce website.

Shop On Secured Site

When purchasing goods on an e-commerce site, you must first ensure that the site is secure or not. A secured site ensures that any information that you enter on the site will not be seen by a third party.

A secured online shopping blog will show https:// in its website address. Moreover, its transaction page will show a closed padlock symbol at the bottom of the page. The closed padlock symbol is a sign of a secured site. Some secured sites carry an unbroken key symbol to indicate their secured status. Shoppers must check for these symbols before doing any transaction.

When it comes to purchasing goods through an e-commerce website, one must not shop at the first site that you come across. It is always best to buy goods from sites that are reliable or well known.

Shop On Reliable Sites

To find out whether an online shopping blog is reliable or not, the shopper should first check the physical address provided on the site. A legitimate business will always provide an address that is reachable. Plus the company will also provide a contact number for its customers.

Shoppers can check with the Better Business Bureau to further ensure that they are doing business with a legitimate site.

Use Credit Cards

When purchasing goods on an e-commerce site, it is best to use a credit card. Under the Fair Credit Billing Act, a shopper has a right to dispute a charge that he/she thinks has been fraudulently put on the account. Moreover, the shopper can put a stop to payments till the investigation is completed.

It is never advisable to use a debit card or check when buying goods on an online shopping blog. The information on the debit card and checks can always be used by thieves to rob shoppers of their money.

Do Not Disclose Social Security Number

When purchasing goods on an e-commerce website, one must never give out their social security number. First of all, social security number is never required for purchasing goods on the net. If the site is asking for one, you must skip it.

With these tips in mind, you can have a safe and hassle free experience on e-commerce websites. These are very simple tips to follow and one that will benefit the shoppers.

You can buy anything and everything from an online shopping blog using credit cards and visiting reliable sites.

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