According to the Office of Fair Trading, one in three internet users feel it’s unsafe to hand over credit card details for online shopping. Fears over personal security and a general mistrust of companies who provide online shopping are the main reasons for their insecurity. And, although there has been a 45% increase in internet spending since 2006, 72 per cent of e-shoppers still say they have concerns. So how do you make sure your details remain secure when online shopping?
First of all, only buy from sites that follow Distance Selling Regulations (pdf). Make sure you check that the information on the website is clear and includes details on:
• the address and contact details of the business
• the goods or services being sold through online shopping
• payment arrangements
• delivery arrangements
• cancellation rights
If you can’t find this information online, or the company won’t provide it, you should purchase from them with caution. Though Distance Selling Regulations do not apply to sites like eBay where online shopping is done through an auction, eBay do have their own protection procedures in place so you can still feel safe while online shopping.
Another way to make sure your personal details are protected is to check that the site you’re buying from is secured by an SSL certificate. This means your personal, bank and credit card details are encrypted during online transactions.
As long as you keep these tips in mind while online shopping, you should feel more confident about the security of your purchases. Happy shopping!
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