Nowadays, with the development of technology, consumers can go with a simple click to thousands of virtual stores and make any purchase they want. Clearly this gives the advantage of convenient and immediate purchase of a product, but online consumers should not forget the most important thing. Just as they would take steps to keep their money safe in a brick-and-mortar store in the real world, so they need to be protected from any scams and risks that the internet holds.

Safe WebSites

But how can one examine whether a website is indeed secure and therefore trustworthy? Secure sites use the so-called encryption technology to transfer information from your computer to their computer and vice versa. This is a technology that encrypts the information a user sends, such as a credit card number for example, to prevent potential hackers from obtaining that number when the information is sent. The only people allowed to decode the code are those with the legal rights to access it.

Research the Website before purchasing

Be sure to do business with companies you already know and trust. If the company you are going to buy from is unknown, then it would be a good idea to do some research around them, for your own safety. Also, a good move would be, if the company is unfamiliar to you, to buy something at a low price first to see how things go.

Always read the Terms and Conditions

Every reliable and properly organized company that offers its products on the Internet has a section on its website with the Terms of Transactions and the Conditions that must be met in order for the transaction you will carry out to have a smooth outcome. It would be good to always read these terms so that you are also covered on the legal side of the matter if something goes wrong.

Find out about the cookies

Companies that sell on the internet, are used to tracking the purchases and habits of customers with the use of "cookies". It is an online tracking system that renders pieces of the code of our Internet browsers so that each company can track which sites we visit during our search on the Internet.

The safest way to shop online

The safest way to shop online is with a credit card. If something goes wrong, you're protected under the federal Fair Billing Act. You have the right to dispute charges on your credit card, and you can get back the charges that were made to you after an investigation proves that the creditor charged you in error.

Never share your Social Security Number

Provision! A Social Security number is not a requirement to place an order online. There is no reason for your creditor to ask you about this number. Giving out your Social Security number could easily lead someone to steal your identity.

Keep your password secret

Never reveal your password to anyone. When choosing a password, don't use well-known information in it, such as your date of birth, your mother's maiden name, your driver's license numbers, or your Social Security number. Do not use the same password for other websites that link to sensitive information.

Beware of Messages”Phishing“

Hackers send mass emails to Internet users and ask them to update their bank account information, credit cards, or other popular shopping sites. The e-mail may state that your account information has expired, been compromised or lost and that you should resend it to the company immediately. Do not respond to every request for financial information you receive by email.

Print/Save copies of your orders

After you complete your order, you will receive a confirmation page that will review your entire order history. It should include the cost of the order, information about the product, as well as the confirmation number. We recommend that you print or save one or more copies of the web page that lists the item you ordered as well as the page that lists the company name, mailing address, phone number, and legal terms, including the company's policy on product returns.

Please pay attention to the shipping methods

By law, the company must ship your order within the time stated in its advertisement. If the shipping time frame is not mentioned, the merchant must ship the product in 30 days.

Learn about cancellation/return and complaint handling terms

Many times there is a case where you need to return the product you bought for various reasons. Check the website for cancellation and return policies. Be sure to check for the following:

• Who pays for shipping?
• Is there a time limit for return/cancellation?
• Is there a phone number or email for complaints?
• Is it easy to get repair services for you?
• Is there a warranty on the product?

Buyer intuition

Look at the site with a critical eye. If any of the following questions raise alarm bells for you, it would be wise to switch to another site for your purchases:

• Do the company's prices seem unusually low to you?
• Does this online marketer look like an amateur?
• Are there many spelling or grammatical errors on the site?
• Are your calls to the company phone going unanswered?

Do your check using the single use card numbers

There are virtual credit cards that use a random number as a substitute in place of your real credit card number. Such cards can be used to purchase goods and services over the phone and through the mail.

Electronic Signatures

Electronic signatures in global and national trade law have a complex body of legislation behind them. Electronic signatures and electronic records used in interstate and foreign commerce do not lose their validity because they are in electronic form. The law says that online purchases do not need to be accompanied by a traditional handwritten signature, as is necessary for example on a document.

Online Auctions

Online auctions are the link between buyers and sellers and allow them to communicate in a bidding process on items for sale. Many people participate in online auctions because they find the opportunity to purchase items at discounted prices as well as the opportunity to sell some of their unnecessary or unwanted possessions in order to raise some extra cash. In general online auctions are a safe way for people to exchange goods. But it makes sense to be cautious and know a little more.

Online Sales Taxation

In general, online purchases do not include sales tax, but there is a small loophole in some cases. If an online marketplace merchant has a physical presence in your state, they are obligated to charge you what's called sales tax. In most Member States, consumers are required to pay tax on online purchases, even if the shop they shop at does not charge the corresponding tax.

Be aware of dynamic pricing

Some online market retailers use dynamic pricing to price discriminate. In this way, they charge different prices to different consumers for the same products or services. When you buy goods or services online, you may pay a higher or lower price than another customer buying the same product from the same place at the same time. Online shopping allows consumers to easily compare prices. But they also allow businesses to collect detailed information about each customer's purchase history and preferences. Online stores can use this information to adjust the prices they ultimately charge you.

SOURCE: https://www.aboutnet.gr