5 Golden Rules For Safe Online Shopping

As scammers become more sophisticated and people become more desperate to find ways to make money during the recession, consumers shopping online need to become more vigilant and wary as to pitfalls out there. We  have outlined some of the few basic internet security measures and must do’s, to make sure that we shop safely online to avoid falling foul to the many scammers, exploiters and opportunists who are all to ready to pounce!

1. Install internet security software on your PC, tablet and/or smartphone. Doing this will help you steer clear of malware and phishing messages that could lead you to fake websites designed to steal your personal details.

2. Always keep a close eye on your bank statement to identify any charges that haven’t been authorised.

3. Never read out the full details of your credit card in a public place, or write them down anywhere for someone else to find.

4. Avoid making payments over the phone with a credit card, unless you make the call directly and obtain the number from a trusted source. Scammers have been known to cold call victims and convince them that money is owed immediately for a problem that doesn’t exist!

5. Don’t provide your CVV when processing a payment in person. It should never be required and if someone tells you otherwise, it’s a reason to be highly suspicious!