Online shopping is becoming increasingly popular—after all, the product you want is often just a mouse click away. But with cybercrime on the rise, it’s a good idea to take a closer look at supposed bargains. The following 12 tips can help you protect yourself from scammers.
Tip 1 – Protect Your PC
Only with a secure computer can you shop online worry-free. Antivirus software and firewalls offer protection against malware, but they must be updated regularly.
Tip 2 – Tricky Passwords
You should also be careful when choosing a password: It should be at least eight characters long and consist of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. In addition, you should never use the same password twice.
Tip 3 – Avoid Wi-Fi
On unencrypted Wi-Fi networks, data can easily be intercepted. So it’s better to hunt for online bargains only at home on your own network, rather than at the café next door.
Tip 4 – Reputation of Providers
Countless companies list only a P.O. box address in their legal notice. If you want to avoid falling for a scam, you should make sure that a complete address, the name of the CEO, and contact information are provided. It’s also important to know in which country the company is headquartered, as foreign operators are often subject to different legal frameworks.
Tip 5 – Pay attention to the fine print
You should always read the terms and conditions before completing a purchase. Provisions regarding returns, exchanges, and shipping costs are particularly important when shopping online. Otherwise, shipments from abroad can quickly become expensive.
Tip 6 – Read Reviews
Especially on platforms like eBay or Amazon, it's important to pay attention to customer reviews. This way, you'll not only find out whether the product is worth buying, but also whether the seller is trustworthy.
Tip 7 – Be Wary
If expensive brand-name products are suddenly being offered at rock-bottom prices, you should be cautious. Such online offers often involve damaged or counterfeit goods.
Tip 8 – Beware of Phishing
You can safely ignore emails in which financial institutions, online stores, etc., ask you for confidential information. Such phishing emails are always sent with the intent to defraud—for example, to “phish” for account information.
Tip 9 – Quality Seal
Seals of approval such as “S@fer-Shopping” or “Trusted Shops” indicate reputable online retailers and can help you make an informed choice. You can also find current reviews of online stores on websites such as www.e-rating.at.
Tip 10 – Be Careful When Registering
Anyone who is required to create a user account before finalizing a purchase agreement should exercise caution. Information such as your name or address is required, but sensitive data such as bank account information is rarely necessary.
Tip 11 – Payment
Common payment options include credit card and direct debit. However, when transmitting data, it is essential to ensure that the connection is encrypted. You can tell this by the “https” prefix or by messages such as “You are about to view pages over a secure connection …”. In addition, a padlock icon appears in the browser’s address bar. If you prefer to pay by cash on delivery—that is, upon receipt of the goods—keep in mind that this usually incurs higher fees. Furthermore, you should always keep a close eye on your account activity. If you notice any suspicious transactions, it’s high time to contact your bank advisor.
Tip 12 – Return Policy
What should you do if the item of clothing you ordered doesn't fit after all? Generally, items can be returned within 14 days without giving a reason. However, in most cases, the customer must pay for the return shipping. If you'd like more detailed information about the legal requirements, visit www.verbraucherrecht.at.
A guest post by Thomas Rolf, an expert on the Internet at A1.
