How to Stay Safe Shopping Online

The truth is that the world we live in presently is a global village because world has been considered as a single community where distance and isolation have been dramatically linked together with the aid of telecommunication or better put electronic media. 

Since the gaps have been linked and those considered to have been isolated due to the underdevelopment of their domicile have now been brought closer to others, though with millions of miles between yet with swift communication facilities. Virtually, the distance has become meaningless because there is now little or no limit to what people in far distance can do together.

Business is one of the major keys that make the world a place worth living because it is a source of livelihood to human. for this reason, more and more business owners are making use of the electronic media to extend the transaction of business with people of distance location, hence this is called electronic media or e-commerce, that is the buying and selling of goods and services, or the transmitting of funds or data over an electronic network, primarily the Internet.

Online Shopping

The definition of e-commerce can also be used interchangeably for the term online shopping because it's also the act of purchasing products or services over the Internet. The online sellers or retailers are called e-tailer.

No doubt, online shopping has grown in popularity over the years because consumers find it more easy to shop from the comfort of the home or office.

Let's face it, there's every reason in the world to shop online. The shopping is secure, delivery is fast and you can make a return. With trusted e-tailers, you have no reason going to store, yet buying more than ever.

Tips for Safe Shopping Online

1.   Use Familiar Website

it is better to start with a site known to you than shopping through a search engine. If you know the site, chances are it's less likely to be a rip-off. in Nigeria, we all know Jumia.com, Konga.com, yudala and others like OLX, Jiji etc. be sure of the domain name and avoid misspelling, one of the tricks used by the scammers is to use a top-level domain (dot.net instead of dot.com), they may have some items that look pretty good with attractive write-ups but it is only a trick to give up your information.

2   Check the Padlock Icon

Don't ever make the mistake to buy anything online with your credit card from a site that doesn't have Secure Socket Layer (SSL), does that sound like jargons?  You will know if the site has SSL because the site URL will start with https://, but a secured site will not just start with https:// without having an icon of a locked padlock before it. if you are using chrome browser, it is always on the status bar at the left just before the web address. Please always consider this whenever you want to make any transaction online.

3.   Look Before You Leap

The best way to protect yourself online is to be careful about who you are giving your payment details to.If you are not 100 percent sure about the genuineness of the retailer you're visiting do some research to verify it's authenticity and security.

• No e-tailer (online shopping store) needs your BVN or birth date to do business. however, if the cyber fraudsters get them combined with your card number, then the rest will be a sorry vase. The more they know, the easier it is to steal your identity. Be reluctant to give sensitive information online.
• create a strong password for your online transaction, a good password is at least 8 characters long with a combination of numbers and symbols, you may which to add uppercase characters. NOTE: make sure you use a password you can always remember if you are not too sure of the password to write it down on a safe pad.

4.   Check and Check Your Bank Alert

Thank God for the mobile alert system, if you don't receive bank alert after making a transaction you need to apply for that without wasting time. Do wait until month end to get your transaction details. make sure you don't see any fraudulent charges originating from any site. One more thing, ensure you screenshot the payment detail and keep it for future reference should in case there are any unauthorized charges or when your goods don't get delivered to you.

5.   Say No to Offers That Sound Too Good to Be Real

Yeah! many of us live our lives on social media and other online channels which are loaded with ads messages that tempt you with great offers coming from less known sites, sure you don't want to take a chance to get tricked just for a discount? Remember, the cheapest is not the best. Start safe shopping online by saying no to deals that sound too good to turn down.

Finally, the tips above are to keep us safe while we enjoy the comfort that comes with online shopping,