How to be a Well Informed Online Shopper
Online shopping in the United States equaled $65B in 2004, and
predictions for 2008 expect that figure to rise to $117B. The
internet can be a shopper's dream; however, you need to know how
to shop safely and securely. Below are some considerations you
should take into account before you make an online purchase.
Is the web site reputable?
If you are shopping on a site that you are not familiar with,
take the time to do a little homework before you share any
sensitive personal information. Check the site to see if there
is a third-party seal of approval posted from a trusted source
like the Better Business Bureau Online, or Trust-E. The stamp of
approval from these organizations means the web site has agreed
to be held to strict standards in how they handle personal
information, as well as customer complaints.
Sites such as BizRate.com or Epinions.com may have information
about various sites along with customer reviews. You can also
enter the name of the web site or business into your favorite
search engine to see what comes up. If someone has had a bad
experience with the site, it may be mentioned in a user forum or
consumer information site.
Is the web site using secure technology?
When information is transferred between your computer and the
shopping site's server, it should be encrypted. If a shopping
site's server uses encryption technology, your data will be
scrambled and then unscrambled when it reaches the shopping
site's server. Encryption prevents unscrupulous hackers from
capturing the information during transmission.
There are two things to look for to ensure that your personal
data will be encrypted.