Are You Shopping Safely Online?
Follow These Pointers To Ensure Your Protection
Sometimes, people get so involved with the browsing and selection process online, they forget about using their street smarts.
Crooks have discovered the Internet just as they have every other type of business that exchanges goods for credit cards and cash. Since it's impossible to have a cop on every corner of cyberspace, consumers need to take an active role in making their transactions as secure as possible.
Street Smarts Pay Off
So you're online, you've found a great item you want to order -- how do you know the site you're on is secure? For starters, do your shopping on sites that are well-known and have a good reputation. If possible, shop with merchants you already know or, if you don't know whom you're dealing with, do some research about the company before you give them your credit card information.
"If you don't know who the seller is, or whether it's a business or an individual,go to the 'about us' section to see if you can learn more about who's behind the site," says Linda Remeschatis, an attorney, who was with the Wisconsin District Attorney's office for 13 years, and now owns www.wisconsinmade.com (an e-commerce site that promotes gifts and food made in Wisconsin).
She also suggests checking out their legal disclosure and their terms of use policy. You can also visit www.whois.net to find out to whom the site is registered.
When you read the "terms of use policy," see if you can find out if your personal information is being traded or sold to other merchants. That information should be posted on the site, but not all sites post this information. If it's available, read it over carefully so that you understand what they will and won't do with your personal information.
Some consumer advocacy groups are pushing Congress for help online. They want to make it mandatory for all e-commerce sites to allow consumers to decide if they want their personal information used for secondary purposes. In addition, they're advocating for consumers to be able to change their personal file if it's incorrect.
Secure Servers
"Make sure you're on a secure server so your credit card information is encrypted," Remeschatis points out. "Encypted" means that your name and number is scrambled. Check for it this way: The URL has https:// ... in the address area, you'll see an "s." If you're using Microsoft Explorer for your web browser, you'll see a padlock. If you're using a Netscape Navigator browser there will be a key at the bottom of your screen.
This is the Secure Socket Layer (SSL) technology, which encrypts your information before it gets to the merchant for processing.
Protect Your Password
"Passwords are another layer of security," says Remeschatis. "Don't give out your password on a site where you can't verify that it's secure." (Remember to look for the padlock or the key.)
If the site doesn't have a password and requests you send your financial info, credit card info or social security number by e-mail, forget it. You're opening yourself up to insecure processing and the possibility that your information will be used in a fraudulent way.
Before And After You Hit "Buy"
Check the site's return and exchange policy. You should be able to return the item or exchange it for credit. If the site doesn't offer either one of these options, consider moving on to a site that does.
Just like with other credit card purchases, you should keep track of online transactions. Scrutinize your credit card statement when it arrives. If it doesn't match up, notify your credit card company immediately.
Is shopping online 100% safe? No, but if you do business with trusted names, and exercise your street smarts (and trust your instincts too) the statistics for safe cyberspace shopping are on your side.
To make a complaint or for more information contact:
Sharyn Alden has written about consumer issues for two decades for publications including the Wisconsin State Journal.
