No matter the time of year that you’re shopping online, your safety is paramount. Whether you’re browsing your favourite stores or using a marketplace like Amazon, you need to take some necessary precautions to prevent any fraud or criminal activity. Here are five top tips that will help you stay safe when shopping online this year.
Tip 1: Don’t fall for deals that seem too good to be true
If you encounter an online deal that seems too good to be true, it probably is. Fraudsters are adept at replicating legitimate websites and tricking people into believing that the offers they share online are genuine. Therefore, one of your first ports of call before committing to a purchase should be an independent review site like Trust Pilot. If you can see lots of positive reviews from the site in question, it’s probably okay to continue with your purchase.
Tip 2: Identify bogus emails
Spam emails are frustrating at the best of times. But when something arrives in your inbox with a special offer or as an apparent delivery notification, you need to check it out. Fraudsters will try and get you to click links and submit your details to their software. If you see an email that you think is bogus, the best course of action is to do nothing. If it turns out that there is a problem with your order and you don’t receive it for whatever reason, you can reach out and contact the company yourself.
Tip 3: Log out when your shopping is done
Instead of just shutting the window and closing down your PC, make sure you log out of online accounts when your shopping is done. If you stay logged in, it’s easier for hackers to access your stored information online.
Tip 4: Update your computer
Fraudsters target old versions of software to try and steal information and hack accounts. Although it can be frustrating having to constantly update your software, it’s actually a really important part of your online security. Before you close your PC at the end of the day, take the time to run the update – it’s definitely worth it from a security standpoint.
Tip 5: Keep on top of your financial information
Checking your statements and keeping on top of your financial information is an effective way of staying safe online. If you check your account regularly, you can notice unusual transactions, which you can then look to rectify with your bank. If you go too long without checking your accounts, you might find that you’ve been a victim of a hack without realising it.
So, whether you’re looking to buy furniture online or perhaps as you complete the latest payment on your summer holiday, make sure you follow the above five tips to ensure you don’t fall foul to crime as you’re shopping online this year.
