6 Safety Tips to Know When Shopping Online From Your Phone
|Shopping online can be a great way to save time, but you must be careful. You should know the safety tips to stay safe when shopping online from your phone. Here are six things to keep in mind.
1. Find a Safe Retail Website
People often mistake visiting websites that look like retail websites but aren’t. You can find many retail websites designed to look legit but are not secure, which means they can be hacked, and your financial information will be compromised if personal information is stolen. You can use your credit card or bank account when buying on these sites because the payments are typically processed through secure networks.
2. Never Give Your Personal Information
Don’t ever give out your personal or financial information. For example, you don’t want to give credit card numbers, social security numbers, or bank account information to a retail website that isn’t secure. If you do, an identity thief will likely take your information and steal your identity. It’s never safe to give out this information unless you are on a secure retailer website.
3. Be Careful When Giving Your Social Media Login
When shopping online, you may be asked to log into your social media accounts. Don’t do this if the retail website is not secure because someone can take over your account and use it for sinister purposes. The safest thing to do is to not give out your social media login information and simply bypass this step if you see it on the retail website you wish to shop at.
4. Ask the Retailer for Security Information
Always ask a retail website what steps they take to protect your personal and financial information. For example, you might want to know if they encrypt their site so that others can’t read it. You might also want to know how they handle sensitive information, such as credit card numbers, bank account numbers, and social security numbers.
5. Know the Shop Policies Before You Buy
Check out the retailer’s website or call them before you shop to ask what kind of information they will hold on you and how they will use that information. You should find this information easily by referring to their privacy policy or talking to a sales representative. For example, when buying cigars, you will want to know whether they have a full refund policy, if they will give a credit when your order isn’t right and whether they require identification or proof of age before shipping.
6. Make Sure You Are Aware of the Shipping Fees
When you shop online, be sure you know the shipping costs and delivery time in advance so that you are not surprised at checkout. You should also look for a retailer shipping policy that includes tracking and insurance.
In conclusion, be sure to use these tips when shopping online. This way, you can shop online with peace of mind, knowing that your information is protected and your identity is safe.