These days, just about anyone can set up a website. Unfortunately, this makes it easier for scammers and hackers to victimize unsuspecting shoppers. If you want to shop online, it’s vital that you know how to check whether the site is secure and legitimate.
If you’re looking for the best online shopping sites, you’ll have better luck by knowing if a particular site you’re browsing is actually secure. While most consumers are satisfied with their online shopping experiences, it’s always a good idea to be extra cautious. Here are telltale signs that a site is secure:
- It doesn’t have pop-up ads.
Pop-ups don’t necessarily take you to another website, but what they do is steal your information while you surf their web pages. Reputable retailers do not use pop-ups because it’s one of the major reasons site visitors click-out.
- It has good customer reviews.
While it’s perfectly normal for any business to have negative reviews, stay away from those whose reviews are mostly negative. It’s always a good idea to do a quick search on Google to find out what other customers are saying about a particular website before you buy.
- It doesn’t send unsolicited emails.
Reputable retailers will only send you solicitations through email if you agreed to receive them in the first place. If you receive an email from senders claiming to be a well known brand or store, you have to be extra cautious. Chances are, these are from fake sites that are trying to get your personal info.
- It offers a return policy.
Reputable businesses always state their return policy clearly on their website. If this information is missing, then stay away.
- It has a physical address and contact information.
You’ll know a business is real if they provide their contact number and address on their website. You can also take the next step by calling their number to see if it’s actually real.
- Its website has security features.
You should be able to see the padlock icon beside the browser address bar. If this is not available, then the unbroken key icon should be present. Check this particular feature before you give out your credit card details.
- It has a privacy statement.
They should clearly explain how they are able to protect customer information including credit card data. They should also state whether the information you provide them will be sold to third parties or not (it shouldn’t).
- It offers several payment options.
The online retailer should be able to accept payments through credit card (Visa, MasterCard, AmericanExpress, etc.) as well as Paypal and other online payment channels.
Buying online is a great way to score some pretty good deals. But it’s very important to be extra cautious before you choose a particular shopping website. Be wary of those that are offering really low prices; it’s likely that they have defective products or worse – they are thieves masking as stores so they can access your personal and financial information.
