How to Protect Yourself While Shopping Online?
23.03.2022
Thankfully during these lockdown days, we can buy what we need through online shopping. Many retailers have invested more money in apps, websites and shipping to reach more customers. But alongside this, online scams have got worse too. We need to protect ourselves during our online shopping spree. Here are some tips for you:
- Don’t use your debit card
When shopping online it’s best to stick to credit cards or online payment accounts rather than debit cards. Credit cards offer more fraud prevention and less liability if a card number gets stolen. Debit cards should be treated like cash.
- Enable 2FA on all online transactions
Two-factor authentication gives you another layer of protection. Having this enabled will alert you to fraudulent transactions that are about to happen, giving you time to alert your bank and lodge a complaint.
- Never use free Wi-Fi at public places
Hackers love free Wi-Fi because it’s relatively easy for them to access information and steal it. In addition, they can create fake Wi-Fi hotspots and as soon as someone connects to it, they have complete access to their device.
- Shop from secure websites only
It’s easy to check which websites are secure and which aren’t. Look at the URL; if it starts with “https”, it’s a secure site. A secure website is encrypted and allows you to complete a purchase without being hacked.
- Use a strong password
Secure and unique passwords are your best guardians when it comes to protecting your private & personal info. Use different password combinations for multiple sites instead of using the same password over and over. You can also use password generators to manage, create and keep unique passwords.
- Monitor your credit card activity
Be proactive and check your credit card activity once in a while. Request to receive alerts for all purchases over a certain amount like 100 liras.
- Beware of links
This one is trickier. Many retailers send links to their customers for offering deals. Before opening their emails, if you are actually interested, you should check their secure website and use it to purchase something. Many hackers use phishing scams where they can create a fake email offers to attract customers and steal their information.
If you believe you have fallen victim to an online scam or fraud, you should:
- Change your password for the affected online shopping account(s)
- Inform your bank of the fraudulent transaction(s) and request that they switch off your card for all online transactions and issue a replacement if necessary.
- Lodge a police report.
By following these seven tips, you can feel more secure when you shop online. Share this on social media to let your friends know how to stay safe while online shopping.