Online shopping can be enjoyable if you research the companies you purchase from.
With the Internet providing a means to shop and conduct business from home, more and more companies are turning to the Web to further market their business. In addition to legitimate businesses turning to the Web, con artists and fraudulent companies alike have developed schemes to steal money from the unsuspecting. Following basic steps and procedures in researching an online company can be the difference between being scammed and keeping your money.
Instructions
1. Research the company using the website it has set up. Look for the basic indications that they are legitimate or fraudulent. Look for phone numbers, email addresses and physical addresses when conducting your search. Make sure information on different pages of the site is consistent with the one you are currently browsing. Be wary of companies that only have P.O. boxes. If you are suspicious, call the company and ask for a physical address where payment and information can be sent.
2. Read the company's customer satisfaction guarantee in great detail. Be wary of companies that do not offer a return policy or have unrealistic guidelines and procedures for returning items.
3. Check a company's website and make sure it has secure connections for processing credit card information. Normally, a padlock will appear in your browser's address bar to alert you that the site is secure, but check the credit card page for added indication that it is in fact secure. You want to look for two indications that a page taking your credit card info is secure. The first indication is the web address starting with "https" instead of "http." The "s" indicates it is a secure connection. The second indication is a link or item that says "Secure Transaction" or "SSL" (Secure Sockets Layer). These items indicate the site is taking precautions to protect your data.
4. Look the company up through the Better Business Bureau. The Better Business Bureau certifies legitimate companies and provides you with a score based on an assessment of the company. They also outline why they may or may not recommend that you conduct business with the site, giving you detailed reasons why.
5. Don't purchase or conduct business with any online company if you feel wary or unsure, even after doing your research. If an item or product seems too good to be true at a given price, it probably is. Be safe with your credit card and personal information when browsing the Web. Do not use the Auto Fill functions of your browser on a site that is not trusted. If you can, refrain from using auto complete features altogether. If you are a heavy Internet shopper, sign up for a credit monitoring service to track newly opened cards and services. You can also utilize a budgeting site like Mint.com, which will alert you if it detects unusual account spending. Check with your bank and make sure it offers fraud protection and doesn't hold you liable for unauthorized purchases.
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