| |
| Secure Online Shoping |
Millions of people around the world
are enjoying the convenience and fun
of shopping on the Internet. Smart
cybershoppers will continue to take
sensible precautions. To minimize
any risk associated with using credit
cards, here are some ‘common
sense’ practices to keep in mind: |
| |
 Cardholder Identity
Authentication Services |
 |
To enhance online shopping
security, credit card companies are
now establishing cardholder identity
authentication services, such as
Verified by Visa, through the card
issuers. Such services will let you
use a personal password with your
card, giving you added reassurance
that only you can use your card to
shop online. |
| |
| Use a Secure Browser to
Navigate the World Wide Web |
|
Use a secure browser - look for an“s” after the “http” in the web page
address or URL. |
|
| Keep Your Password Secret |
|
Some online stores require you to
register a user name and password
before buying an item. Keep your
Internet account password secret
from outside parties. Never share
passwords with anyone and avoid
using easy-to-guess passwords,
such as your telephone number or
your birth date. |
 |
| Use the Internet to Compare
Between Shops Before Buying
Online |
|
Compare products and prices
before you buy - click around to find
your item at the best price. Access
to product reviews and other online
information can enhance your
knowledge and help you make a
more informed decision. |
|
| Protect Your Card Details |
Only give your card details when making
purchases - do not provide them for any other
reason. Never send payment information via
email, information that travels over the
Internet like email, is not fully protected from
being read by outside parties. |
|
| Check Delivery and Return Policies |
When calculating the final cost of a purchase,
don’t forget shipping and handling charges
or any taxes and international costs.
Before completing an online transaction,
read the delivery and return policies on the
online store’s home page. If a merchant
doesn’t post such information, it may be a
good idea to shop elsewhere. |
|
| Keep a Record of Your Transactions |
Keep a record of your transactions - just in
case you need to return an item or have a
question about your purchase. |
|
| Be Familiar with the Online Company |
The more you know about a particular
merchant, the more confident you will feel
when shopping from the merchant’s website. |
|
| Make Sure the Online Merchants Use
Industry Security Standards |
|
That ‘lock and key’ mark, for example, indicates that a merchant uses SSL |
| (Secure
Sockets Layer), which ensures that your
communication is secured. Some merchants
ask you to create a personal account that
requires a password. |
| Look for Privacy Statements |
Be sure to understand a merchant’s privacy
policies and explanation of how your data is
protected. |
|
| Make Sure Your Online Transactions are
Legal |
Remember, you should only use
your card for legal purposes. If in doubt,
check with your card-issuing bank. |
|
