Holiday Online Shopping Safety Tips

Holiday Online Shopping Safety Tips

Online holiday shopping offers numerous conveniences over driving in heavy traffic, tromping though snow, lack of parking, and last-minute crowds. You can do all of your holiday shopping sitting in the comfort of your own home but, you need to be on your guard. Online shopping can have a few extra pitfalls, and there are always a few con artists out there waiting to separate you from your Christmas gift money.

Tis the season to shop online... and by following the tips below, your holiday will be a happy one.

• Evaluate the Seller - Purchase gifts through well-known online retailers that disclose full contact information. Just because an online store has a nifty website doesn't mean it has good business practices.
  
• Always ensure that online financial transactions are secure by checking the bottom right corner of the browser window. A little yellow lock will appear on secure sites.
  
• Check your bank statements regularly and investigate suspicious charges.
  
• Do not give out personal or financial information in response to unsolicited email. Do not click links in any email when conducting financial transactions.
  
• If you think you’ve been phished, immediately visit www.consumer.gov/idtheft.
  
• Record the Transaction - you have submitted your credit card and shipping information, you will likely land on a "Thank You" page. This page usually contains a transaction receipt and transaction number. Print this page for your records.In some cases, you will also receive a receipt by email. Again, printing the email and saving it is wise in case you have computer problems in the future.
  
• Always donate to charities directly, even after receiving emails requesting donations.
  
• When participating in online auctions such as ebay, check the seller’s references and feedback ratings. If purchasing a high-value item, consider using an online escrow service.
  
• Do not user your primary email address when shopping since you may inadvertently be signed up for excessive newsletters or marketing emails. Use a disposable account.
  
• Do not venture online without securing your PC. A good firewall is essential, and antivirus, anti-spyware and spam protection are also critical. Keep up with security update downloads.
  

Also, to save money, don’t forget to always check for a coupon or promotional code before checking out. Visiting CurrentCodes.com and getting a coupon only takes a few seconds and could save you anything from free shipping to 15% off or more.