| Feeling a little nervous about doing your shopping | | | | have to sign affidavits. Having a drained bank account |
| online? Are you concerned over potential credit card | | | | will only add to the stress that fraud creates. This is |
| fraud and identity theft? Here are some tips that will | | | | why using your debit card is not suggested. |
| assist you in shopping wisely and protecting yourself: | | | | 4. You may want to think about using a service such |
| 1. Discuss the possibility of opening a low limit credit | | | | as When using PayPal for your online shopping you do |
| card with your bank or credit card company that you | | | | not need to access any of your credit cards |
| can use just for your purchases online. Doing so will | | | | information. Once you have set up your account, and |
| allow you to have some peace of mind that should | | | | confirmed your credit card with PayPal, you only need |
| your information fall into the wrong hands, only a small | | | | to log into their system to confirm each purchase. This |
| amount of money will be compromised, as opposed to | | | | can greatly reduce any risk of fraud on your account, |
| all of your funding. | | | | as companies you purchase from never see your |
| 2. Always check through your credit cards terms and | | | | card details. PayPal also has a great Buyer Protection |
| conditions. Most crediting companies will not hold you | | | | policy that helps to protect you from any potentially |
| responsible for any fraudulent charges on your | | | | fraudulent purchases. |
| account. Should you notice fraudulent charges on your | | | | 5. Before giving out any private or personal info online |
| account, contact the company with out delay. They will | | | | (such as a credit card number), be sure that the |
| put a freeze on your account to prevent other | | | | connection you are using is secured in the address bar. |
| purchases, then investigate and remove the fraudulent | | | | The url that the shopping cart displays should start with |
| charges from your account balance. You will need to | | | | "https", as opposed to the normal "http". The added 's' |
| sign affidavits that state that the charges were | | | | means that you are on a secured connection. Look for |
| criminally charged to your credit card account. | | | | a small and yellow pad lock symbol that will be in the |
| 3. Always use your credit cards when shopping online | | | | browser status bar at the bottom of the page. That |
| as opposed to your debit card that draws straight | | | | little yellow pad lock also confirms a secured |
| from you bank account. Even though the money in the | | | | connection. |
| bank account is typically protected from any fraudulent | | | | Online shopping can easily provide you with huge |
| charges, it can take a while for the banks to return the | | | | selections of goods and services - saving you a lot of |
| funds to your bank account. There is usually much | | | | money! Follow these tips and help keep your shopping |
| more paper work involved, and in most cases you will | | | | experience pleasant, and safe. |