Do you remember the days before online shopping? We had to go through
terrible ordeals in order to get to the store, suffering through
inconveniences like driving through snow or putting on pants. Now we
have access to stores all over the world and products we never dreamed
existed. But as convenient as online shopping is, it also carries
dangers of fraud and identity theft.
You can become a savvy online shopper by knowing how to protect yourself. Ai InSite talked to Elizabeth Bowles, a recognized internet security and spam expert and the president of Aristotle Inc., a premier internet and email service provider, based in Little Rock, Arkansas. Bowles is an attorney and also the president of the Wireless Internet Service Providers Association, a national organization.
“Another beauty for the merchant is the ability of smaller merchants to reach customers they would never have from a brick-and-mortar store. But this also means that there are literally thousands of stores online, and some of them should be avoided at all costs,” Bowles says.
This doesn’t mean you can’t shop at specialty retailers online, it just means you need to be smart. If you do your research, it’s easy to find out about a company’s reputation. Third-party sites like epinions.com and bizrate.com allow other online shoppers to review sites and products. If someone has had a problem with the vendor, you’re likely to uncover a negative review.
Smart businesses will do everything they can to let their customers know that they can be trusted. Look for seals that show the business is approved by organizations like the Better Business Bureau and Consumer Reports. Also look for “https” rather than “http” at the beginning of the web address, as well as a padlock icon. These help ensure that your information is being protected.
Trust your instincts. If a website looks suspicious, it probably is.
“For example, are there a lot of banner ads on the site advertising third-party services? This is a sign that the site may have relationships with advertisers and others and that they may share your information with these companies,” Bowles says.
Before you place a bid on an online auction site, like eBay, make sure you read all the details of the auction. Individual sellers can make up their own stipulations. Verify the exchange policy, shipping rates, and other details before placing a bid.
If you’re smart about where and how you shop, you may never experience a problem. Kami Gray, a personal stylist/image consultant and 2002 Bachelor of Science in Fashion Design graduate of The Art Institute of Portland says she shops online as often as once a week. As to whether she has ever been scammed, she says: “Honestly, never. Knock on wood!” It’s all about knowing what you’re signing up for.
Even though you probably feel scammed, most of the time this exchange of information is perfectly legal.
“Even reputable merchants will sell/share this information with specific partners – it is absolutely critical to read the privacy policy of the sites you shop with before placing an order or giving any personal information,” Bowles says.
Besides being scammed by a merchant, the most common complaint for online shoppers is not being satisfied by the product when it arrives.
“The drawback to online shopping is that I'm always curious if I would like the product when I receive it,” says Antoinette Ransom, a designer and 2007 Bachelor of Fine Arts in Fashion Design graduate of The Art Institute of California — Hollywood. Ransom also graduated with an Associate of Science in Digital Apparel in 2005.
The best way to avoid this is to find a detailed description of the product before making a purchase.
However, PayPal is not available at all online stores. The next safest option is to use a credit card.
“With all major credit cards, you have certain protections as a consumer,” Bowles explains.
Your credit card company also allows you to challenge unauthorized payments.
“Regardless of which method you use, you should carefully check your credit card statement for a few months after placing an online order to ensure that your card has not been compromised,” Bowles says.
Many institutions also offer temporary credit cards, another great way to protect yourself.
“If you are scammed by a merchant associated with a reputable merchant, such as eBay or Amazon, then you should go to the sponsor (eBay or Amazon) and follow their complaint process,” Bowles says.
The next step is to file a complaint with your credit card company or PayPal.
Source by artinstitue.edu
You can become a savvy online shopper by knowing how to protect yourself. Ai InSite talked to Elizabeth Bowles, a recognized internet security and spam expert and the president of Aristotle Inc., a premier internet and email service provider, based in Little Rock, Arkansas. Bowles is an attorney and also the president of the Wireless Internet Service Providers Association, a national organization.
TRUST YOUR RETAILER
One of the most important ways to protect yourself from online fraud and scams is to only do business with retailers you trust. The big name retailers (Amazon, Target, Nordstrom, etc.) are usually dependable. However, one of the perks of online shopping is finding that perfect obscure little store that has exactly what you’re looking for.“Another beauty for the merchant is the ability of smaller merchants to reach customers they would never have from a brick-and-mortar store. But this also means that there are literally thousands of stores online, and some of them should be avoided at all costs,” Bowles says.
This doesn’t mean you can’t shop at specialty retailers online, it just means you need to be smart. If you do your research, it’s easy to find out about a company’s reputation. Third-party sites like epinions.com and bizrate.com allow other online shoppers to review sites and products. If someone has had a problem with the vendor, you’re likely to uncover a negative review.
Smart businesses will do everything they can to let their customers know that they can be trusted. Look for seals that show the business is approved by organizations like the Better Business Bureau and Consumer Reports. Also look for “https” rather than “http” at the beginning of the web address, as well as a padlock icon. These help ensure that your information is being protected.
Trust your instincts. If a website looks suspicious, it probably is.
“For example, are there a lot of banner ads on the site advertising third-party services? This is a sign that the site may have relationships with advertisers and others and that they may share your information with these companies,” Bowles says.
EDUCATE YOURSELF
Read the fine print. Many online vendors will share your email address and other information with other companies. You can also be signed up for (and charged accordingly) other services. It’s perfectly legal, because you agreed to it.Before you place a bid on an online auction site, like eBay, make sure you read all the details of the auction. Individual sellers can make up their own stipulations. Verify the exchange policy, shipping rates, and other details before placing a bid.
If you’re smart about where and how you shop, you may never experience a problem. Kami Gray, a personal stylist/image consultant and 2002 Bachelor of Science in Fashion Design graduate of The Art Institute of Portland says she shops online as often as once a week. As to whether she has ever been scammed, she says: “Honestly, never. Knock on wood!” It’s all about knowing what you’re signing up for.
COMMON SCAMS
The most common way people are scammed is when a merchant collects the purchaser’s identifying information. This includes details like your email address, mailing address, and phone number. They often have relationships with third-party marketing and spam companies, who pay them for this information.Even though you probably feel scammed, most of the time this exchange of information is perfectly legal.
“Even reputable merchants will sell/share this information with specific partners – it is absolutely critical to read the privacy policy of the sites you shop with before placing an order or giving any personal information,” Bowles says.
Besides being scammed by a merchant, the most common complaint for online shoppers is not being satisfied by the product when it arrives.
“The drawback to online shopping is that I'm always curious if I would like the product when I receive it,” says Antoinette Ransom, a designer and 2007 Bachelor of Fine Arts in Fashion Design graduate of The Art Institute of California — Hollywood. Ransom also graduated with an Associate of Science in Digital Apparel in 2005.
The best way to avoid this is to find a detailed description of the product before making a purchase.
PAYMENT METHODS
The most effective way to protect your financial information is to be smart about how you pay. Bowles recommends PayPal as the safest way to pay. When you make a purchase and choose the option, PayPal completes the transaction without ever showing your private financial information to the merchant.However, PayPal is not available at all online stores. The next safest option is to use a credit card.
“With all major credit cards, you have certain protections as a consumer,” Bowles explains.
Your credit card company also allows you to challenge unauthorized payments.
“Regardless of which method you use, you should carefully check your credit card statement for a few months after placing an online order to ensure that your card has not been compromised,” Bowles says.
Many institutions also offer temporary credit cards, another great way to protect yourself.
TAKE ACTION
If you think that you have been scammed in any way by an online store, there are several courses of action you can take.“If you are scammed by a merchant associated with a reputable merchant, such as eBay or Amazon, then you should go to the sponsor (eBay or Amazon) and follow their complaint process,” Bowles says.
The next step is to file a complaint with your credit card company or PayPal.
Source by artinstitue.edu
