Don’t fret, here’s how to shop safely online

Online shopping has grown to phenomenal levels over the years, with the pandemic helping to spike those numbers to unheard of levels. 

The ease and convenience of online shopping is appealing to those who don’t want to waste their time popping down to the mall or, dare we say it, are a bit too lazy to get off the couch to grab some milk and bread.

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However, while it is so simple in 2023 to buy online or order through your App of choice, there are a number of safety factors which need to be taken note of… otherwise your shopping experience may well turn into a nightmare.

Below are five tips which consumers must be cognisant of before clicking ‘checkout’:

Only use trusted sites

You know the little closed lock icon found next to the website address? Well, those indicate that the site is secure and safe for you to use. If you don’t see the closed lock, then we advise that you stay well away from that particular website.

In addition, if you are unsure about a particular website, make sure to Google the name and read through the reviews. If there are no reviews present when searching, that is a major red flag and you should avoid it at all costs.

Be creative with your passwords

When creating an account on your favourite online shopping site or App, don’t go basic with your password. Remember, your data is stored within the account you create, so going with a password of ‘password1’ or ‘1234567’ is just asking for trouble.

When choosing a password, think of something which is private or that no one else knows about you. That way it will be almost impossible for anyone to crack your password. But, please, don’t make it so complex that you forget it…

Keep your WiFi password to yourself

Yes, sharing is caring, but not when it comes to things that could impact your bank balance. Ensure that your WiFi network is password protected and do not hand the details out to John who lives three doors down.

Use the same password tips listed above when picking your WiFi password at home.

READ: Parents name baby after their ISP

Shop at home when possible

If you have taken the advice above regarding the protection of your WiFi connection, then online shopping at home is the place to do it. When you access a network which may be unprotected away from home, it opens the door for the unsavoury characters of the world gaining access to your details. In reality, you should never experience a problem if you shop online when out and about, but we want you to stay safe, so do 99% of all your online shopping from home on your own WiFi network.

Use a virtual card 

Banks have tried to make shopping safer with the introduction of virtual cards. While there is nothing wrong with using your physical card to shop online – provided you keep the details safe – virtual cards offer an extra layer of protection.

Virtual cards are generated on the spot within your banking App and expire within a certain period of time, making it impossible for those dreaded hackers or scammers from accessing your account in the unlikely event that you are targeted.

READ: Online shopping tips to help skip the queue

The above tips are just a sample of what it means to be safe online. If you are ever suspicious of something, contact your bank directly for assistance. Touch wood, but if you ever fall victim to an issue, you also need to contact your bank ASAP to block your card.

The reality is that if you are clever about what you click on, don’t hand out passwords or details to randoms, and just think before you click, online shopping will be an experience which will keep you far away from those long queues at the mall for good.

Happy shopping!

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