Seems early to be making a list and checking it twice but my mailbox is full of catalogs to entice me to buy early and buy often. It is easy to buy online but do take an extra minute or two to be certain your shopping is secure. The Federal Trade Commission offers these tips from their website, consumer.ftc.gov.
Get the details. Know who you are dealing with as anyone can set up shop online at any time. Confirm a physical address for the location you are purchasing from and a phone number in case you have problems. If you get a ‘pop-up’ from the site asking for personal or financial information while you are browsing, don’t reply or follow the link. Legitimate companies don’t operate this way.
Check out the terms of the deal, like refund policies and delivery dates. Find out if you can return the item for a full refund if you are not satisfied. Many sites offer tracking options, so you can see exactly where your purchase is and estimate when you will get it.
Create passwords to protect yourself. Be creative when you establish a password and avoid using your telephone number, your birthdate or a portion of your social security number. Always use a combination of letters, numbers and symbols.
Pay by credit card. If you pay by credit card, your transaction will be protected by the Fair Credit Billing Act(PDF). Under this law, you can dispute some charges and temporarily withhold payment while they are being investigated. In the event that someone uses your credit card without your permission, your liability generally is limited to the first $50 in charges. When you begin the payment process online, look for the indicator that the site is secure, like a URL that begins ‘https’ (the s stands for secure).
Keep records of your online transactions including the receipt, the emails you send to and receive from the seller. Read your credit card statements as you receive them and don’t send any of your financial information like credit card numbers, checking account numbers or your social security number by email. Email is not secure.
Do report problems with companies online. Contact the Federal Trade Commission or the Ohio State Attorney General’s office or the Better Business Bureau to file a complaint.
