Our lives have drastically changed ever since COVID hit society. We are learning new ways of doing almost everything so that we can keep social distance, this means having to appeal to the internet all the time. Whether because we need to communicate through video call or because we need to buy something and instead of going shopping to the mall we shop online. Let me tell you, online shopping has changed because of the pandemic; internet sales have increased enormously and according to surveys carried out in different countries like Germany, South Africa, Italy, China and Switzerland, between others, consumers are now looking for digital solutions when having to purchase something.
People now shop online more frequently than they used to. Sometimes this can be quite a challenge; depending on what you want to buy. For example, most women are used to going “hunting” in stores for that pair of high-waist leggings they have once spotted in some shop window, so they can try them on in every color available and also to make sure it fits; but nowadays this way of operating is not the best option if we are committed to stopping the virus from spreading. Therefore, new shopping habits have been embraced and online shopping has become the ultimate way to acquire what you need.
It seems the global situation because of COVID has accelerated the course to a digital world; people are not only buying their clothes or technological appliances online, they now find themselves ordering household supplies and groceries through the web.
How to safely shop online
Although online shopping is definitely convenient, many buyers continue to worry about the security and safety of their information. Consumers are concerned about situations like identity theft, or having to grant information such as their location and home address, inconveniences when trying to return products, packages getting lost, etc.
So let’s take a look at some security tips to safely shop online:
*Always shop from a secure connection: It is important for your computer to be properly protected from malicious software so your passwords and financial information won’t be stolen. You have to make sure your computer has a good firewall.
*Make sure the website is secure: There are some signs that will allow you to know if the website is secure; for starters there should always be a padlock symbol beside the website address. The address should start with https:// – the “S” stands for “secure”. You can see the information on the site certificate by clicking the padlock symbol; this tells you who registered the website, if a warning pops up you should avoid the site.
*Research the website and the seller: Most websites are legitimate, but recognizing the fraudulent ones may take some research. You can search the reputation of the website you are trying to buy from, see if it has any negative reviews. There are sites like TrustPilot that will help you find the reputation of some websites.
*Mistrust “too good to be true” offers: Some online stores offer really low prices just to scam you and then make a profit by selling your financial information, or because the product they are offering is defective and it has no warranty, or maybe it is not the brand they say it is. A ridiculously low price may be a sign you are dealing with some disreputable site.
*Use Pay Pal or a credit card: It is preferable not to use a debit card because in the case a problem arises, they don’t have the same security protections as a credit card. For example, if your financial information is stolen, credit card purchases restrict your liability to $50 of unauthorized charges and your bank account won’t be touched, unlike most debit cards that don’t offer this protection. It is also a good idea to designate only one credit card for online shopping; this way, if your information gets compromised you will have to deal only with just one transaction.
*Pay attention to the shipping terms: You should always check the enterprise´s shipping terms before buying anything. Some retailers charge huge shipping fees that can transform your purchase into a big expensive mistake. Also, make sure they provide insurance, in case anything goes wrong; and tracking, so you can follow your package throughout the delivery time.