| Online shopping is becoming more and more prevalent | | | | redirected to another website. For example if you |
| in today's society. Practically anything can now be | | | | were looking for a cheap flight to somewhere in |
| bought with nothing more than a click of a mouse | | | | Europe you could be redirected to Flymonarch.co.uk, |
| button. Online shops sell anything and everything from | | | | for example, an airline company specialising in |
| shoes to second hand goods on Ebay. One market | | | | European air travel, where you will then book and pay |
| area that is becoming big business online is the travel | | | | for your ticket. As an extra security check, it's worth |
| market; however, with purchasing flights and holidays | | | | exploring the site you are redirected to find details on |
| online precautions should be taken, as there is often a | | | | who runs the company or to call their customer |
| larger amount of money involved. | | | | service number for further reassurance. |
| The most basic precaution is to make sure that the | | | | The most common thing for people to worry about is |
| website is legitimate. The most common error | | | | the use of the credit or debit card. However, in recent |
| (although this is by no means a large scale problem) is | | | | years, online credit card use has actually become quite |
| for people to visit bogus sites, enter their card details | | | | safe. As long as the website has been checked out |
| and then have funds fraudulently taken from their | | | | then there really shouldn't be any problems. Most |
| accounts. | | | | banks now offer insurance in the unfortunate event of |
| One way of avoiding this is to visit a travel comparison | | | | credit or debit card fraud so if something should go |
| site such as Dealchecker.co.uk where you can be | | | | wrong then the customer's bank should be contacted |
| assured that the travel companies listed are legitimate | | | | immediately. |
| companies. Meanwhile, if you're specifically searching | | | | Banks now spend a lot more on improving their |
| for cheap flights, then Cheap Flights.co.uk is a good site | | | | security - for example, it is common for the number on |
| for price comparison between a variety of providers. | | | | the signature slip on the back of the card to be |
| Furthermore, it's worth having a look at holidays | | | | entered along with other details. This makes it even |
| provided by Travelzoo - this website compiles all of | | | | more difficult to fraudsters. Some banks, such as |
| the best bargains on the internet in one place, so you | | | | Natwest, even require further verification after card |
| don't need to trawl the web and spend hours | | | | details have been entered. Commonly this is one of |
| searching for a bargain. | | | | the standard tests that banks use to confirm your |
| When dealing with online comparison sites remember | | | | identity; a mother's maiden name or the customer's |
| that they make their money from the travel companies | | | | date of birth. |
| they display only once a ticket is purchased. Fraudulent | | | | The final thing that could be an issue is that the |
| companies are very unlikely to want to pay a price | | | | majority of companies now email tickets to their |
| comparison site to display their non-existent 'offers'. | | | | customers. The customer will need to make sure that |
| Also the best travel price comparison sites have spent | | | | the usual email precautions are adhered to - namely |
| a lot of time building up their reputation, to become a | | | | that no one else is given access to their inbox, and |
| market leader - one slip up could serious damage this. | | | | being extra vigilant on 'public' computers such as those |
| Once a cheap flight has been found you will be | | | | in the work place. |