A Few Important Precautions That can Help Create a Safer Online Buying and Payment Experience
Covid-19 has only quickened and even increased the consumption of online financial as well as online shopping services. With the growth in ecommerce and the addition of high end payment and check out facilities, ecommerce as an industry now serves customers with various options. With online purchases now becoming a go-to option for shoppers because of the ongoing pandemic, it is crucial for both, providers of these services and individual users to take adequate precautions that can help ensure safety and privacy of sensitive information like personal financial and payment data. To enjoy a more risk-free online shopping experience, what should buyers especially keep in mind?
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It’s Safer To Access A New Ecommerce Site Through A Browser
Most online shopping experiences now have to offer users a chain of online modes and channels from which to shop from, including an app, a website and social media. This makes it easier for spammers to use well-disguised spam emails (using discounts as a lure) to get buyers to click on fake versions of shopping sites or pages. Given the increased numbers of online crimes today, typing the address of a shopping site into the browser minimizes risk of shoppers unintentionally submitting personal financial information to a fraud website.
Purchase Only Through Sites that Use Data Encryption
“Https” in the address bar in sites, including ecommerce sites indicates that the site uses data encryption. This means that no third-party can manipulate or access any information that is being transferred from the device a shopper uses to interact with the ecommerce website. Data encryption is a basic requisite to look out for when you have to transmit personal credit card or other sensitive bank and payment information.
Consider Maintaining a Separate Online E-Wallet to Use as a Shopping Purchase Account
Instead of sharing your credit card details or bank details with any site, reserve one separate digital wallet that is linked to sites for online purchases, this will ensure that neither have your complete financial information while only one source exists with which to make online payments even if you have multiple accounts and cards.
Official Contact Details of the Shopping / Ecommerce Site
Given the growing numbers of shopping and ecommerce online marketplaces, there is more choice for shoppers. But how can online buyers know which sites are safe to purchase from? Besides relying on reviews and customer feedback or social media updates, several shoppers may filter their options by sticking to the most recognized providers only. For those keen on trying new providers, make a note of the site’s official physical corporate address besides saving other relevant contact information.
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Avoid Public Wi-Fi!
It is always safer to shop from your own home or personal internet or mobile network. Public WiFi hotspots may allow third parties to access data transmitted by all the other connected devices, which is why using encrypted sites over safe private networks is a must.
In an online selling and buying environment, it’s important to be overly cautious when conducting financial transactions and payments online. Basic precautions help both, providers and users stay clear of cyber crimes and unwanted exchange of financial data.
