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Security Tips for Online Shoppers
| Written by Henry Bentley |
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Years ago I heard an amusing story about a man who mail-ordered a gadget for killing mice. The "Guaranteed Mouse Killer" certainly sounded like a viable solution. According to the ad, it never failed. He placed his order and eagerly awaited his new weapon in the war against the pesky varmints. A few weeks later, his package arrived. The device consisted of two pieces of wood and an instruction sheet. The instructions were simple 1) Place the mouse in the center of board one. 2) With great force slam board two into board one.
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Certainly the tenants of the ad were satisfied by the product. Yet, the man's expectations of a viable solution were no doubt unfulfilled. In today's cyber-world the consumer is faced with the same dilemmas as those faced by the man in the story. Can I trust the company? Is the product any good? How do I pay for the merchandise? So, what's a body to do? First understand that anyone can launch a website or open an online store. Online sites are not heavily regulated, nor should they be. Therefore it is up to the consumer to make a judgment call as to the authenticity of the vendor and the quality of the goods.
Below are some tips developed by the US government that can assist in the evaluation and purchasing of items from online suppliers.
- Know who you're dealing with. Confirm the online seller's physical address and phone number in case you have questions or problems.
- Know exactly what you're buying. Read the seller's description of the product closely, especially the fine print.
- Know what it will cost. Factor shipping and handling - along with your needs and budget - into the total cost of the order.
- Pay by credit or charge card, for maximum consumer protections.
- Check out the terms of the deal, like refund policies and delivery dates.
- Print and save records of your online transactions. Click for onguardonline.gov webpage
If you are unsure about the quality of the merchandise being offered contact the website's sales staff (should be a contact us page) and ask for specific information about the item, manufacturer or warranty. If the site doesn't provide an easy way of getting in touch with the sales team, go to another site. If terms for returning merchandise are not disclosed, buy elsewhere.
Credit card fraud is a considerable problem. When ordering goods online use a card that has a low credit-limit. It isn't a bad idea to have one card with a $1000 or so credit limit for such purchases. To make a purchase should require very little information. Do not give information such as social security number and mother's maiden name.
E-commerce is here, it's great and it's growing. However one must remember that the old adage of Buyer Beware applies to the cyber-shopper as well.
Henry Bentley |
