| Website Security Rules of the Road | | | | in the status bar at the bottom of your Web |
| | | | browser window. Also, do not provide your |
| More and more people are attracted to the | | | | personal information if the website address |
| ease of online shopping and are spending | | | | doesnt start with https (a sign that the site |
| higher amounts. Unfortunately, the chances | | | | is using a secure server). |
| of becoming a victim of Internet fraud are | | | | |
| also increasing. | | | | 6. Choose only verified |
| | | | sellers. Check to see if the vendor is a |
| While many e-commerce Websites are reputable | | | | verified member of a reputable third party |
| and have taken the necessary safety | | | | such as the Better Business Bureau, VeriSign, |
| precautions to protect you, it never hurts to | | | | or Guardian eCommerce. These third-party |
| always proceed cautiously. If you are making | | | | sites help to ensure online consumers will be |
| an online purchase consider these easy steps: | | | | protected when shopping or conducting |
| | | | e-commerce transactions. |
| 1. Use only one credit card, | | | | |
| preferably with a low credit limit, when | | | | 7. Check that the delivery |
| making online purchases. Avoid using an ATM | | | | date posted is reasonable. If you have not |
| or debit card. | | | | dealt with the vendor on a regular basis, be |
| | | | wary of any Website that states the shipment |
| 2. Be wary of unsolicited | | | | will be delayed 20 or more days. Delivery |
| offers by sellers. While the offer may be | | | | dates of 7-10 days are more common. |
| legitimate, spammers like to use this tactic | | | | |
| to side-step reputable sites that provide | | | | 8. Keep a paper trail of all |
| consumer protection for online purchases. | | | | online transactions. Print out a hard copy |
| | | | of the transaction and keep it in a file for |
| 3. Use only reputable | | | | future reference. |
| e-commerce websites that list a street | | | | |
| address and telephone number in case you need | | | | 9. Be wary of website offers |
| to contact them directly. | | | | that just sound too good to be true. The |
| | | | Internet is littered with get rich quick |
| 4. Read the websites privacy | | | | scams and false advertising claims. |
| policy. Some websites may reserve the right | | | | Investigate all claims thoroughly before |
| to sell/give your information to a third | | | | proceeding. |
| party. Check the document to see if they | | | | |
| allow an opportunity to opt-out of receiving | | | | 10. If you do not receive what |
| special offers from third-party vendors or | | | | you paid for, and the vendor will not return |
| for permission to share your personal | | | | your emails or calls, contact your states |
| information. | | | | Department of Consumer Affairs for further |
| | | | assistance. |
| 5. Check for a lock symbol | | | | |