Melody
Dec 27th 2006, 07:18 PM
Statistics Canada (http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/061101/d061101a.htm) reports that approximately 7,000,000 Canadians ordered online in 2005, spending $7.9 billion on goods and services. Be it Classifieds shopping or web-based merchants, there are things we must be aware of to shop safely online. Following are tips I have come up with or read elsewhere. Feel free to post more.
Tips For Shopping Safely Online
~ Get the refund/return/DOA policy in writing.
~ Get a clear description of what you're buying. Age, size, species name, etc. and preferrably a photo.
~ Obtain shipping costs and a list of other costs such as box charges before confirming your order. Remember to factor in taxes and duty.
~ Find out when the order will be shipped and when you can expect to receive it. Obtain a tracking number once the item has been shipped. Make it clear that you will be expecting this information.
~ Be aware of the laws in both countries. Just because they'll ship it here doesn't mean that it is legal to own. Just because its legal to own doesn't mean its legal to import.
~ Purchasing with Paypal eliminates the need to give your credit card number out to numerous websites. Only Paypal sees your credit card information when you use it. You can also pay using funds from you bank acount via Paypal and again, only Paypal sees your banking information. Paypal also offers buyer protection.
~ When using Paypal, list the items you are ordering, prices, sub-total and total with shipping in the Notes section. This gives both you and the seller a record.
~ Unless you trust the seller, stay away from payment by Western Union and E-Mail Bank Transfers. Although secure in the transaction sense, they offer no buyer protection. If the seller refuses to give you a real name, phone number, address, etc, don't do business using these methods and it is best to avoid them regardless unless you know the seller personally.
~ If there buyer/seller ratings available, check them out. First time sellers are often honest people, but personally I stay away from them whenever possible. Don't be afraid to contact the people who have rated the person in question - they're often more straight-forward and detailed when contacted personally.
~ Don't let strangers into your home. Arrange to meet people in a public place. Let someone know where you'll be and whatever you know about the person you're meeting.
~ Before you fill out an order form, check for the little lock/padlock/key secure server symbol at the bottom of the browser screen. If there's no lock, don't order, its not a secure order form and any average "hacker" could intercept the information.
~ Websites should include contact and location information of the seller/merchant.
~ Read website Privacy Policies.
~ Never send your credit card or other financial information via e-mail as that can be intercepted.
~ Anyone can build a reasonably professional looking website these days - the look does not mean it can be trusted.
~ Set up a separate e-mail account for online transactions, forums, etc so you don't end up being spammed by those who do not practice ethical business.
http://www.emailaddresses.com (http://www.emailaddresses.com/)
~ Although its tempting to use passwords that are easy for you to remember, they are also easy for others to guess. Passwords should be lengthy, use numbers and letters and upper and lowercase.
~ Never connect to a financial institution (bank, paypal, etc) through an e-mail requesting information. Type the proper URL into your browser and visit the site in question. If there's something you should know there will be a notice there. Most insititutions also have a list of fraud notifications. You can always ask the institution if in doubt. Even when the URL looks legit, another can be embedded in the e-mail.
~ Review your credit card and bank statements. Verify all transactions and cancel the card when any suspicious activity is noted.
Recommended Publications & Resources (Free!):
Canadian Marketing Assoc. Consumer Info. (http://www.the-cma.org/consumer/index.cfm)
Credibility on the Web (http://www.consumersinternational.org/Templates/Internal.asp?NodeID=91807&int1stParentNodeID=89652&int2ndParentNodeID=89792&int3rdParentNodeID=89708&int4thParentNodeID=89708&int5thParentNodeID=89708&int6thParentNodeID=89708&int7thParentNodeID=89708&int8thParentNodeID=89708&strSubSite=1&strLHSMenu=89652): An international study of the credibility of consumer information on the Internet.
Disputes in Cyberspace 2001 (http://www.consumersinternational.org/Templates/Internal.asp?NodeID=91797&int1stParentNodeID=89652&int2ndParentNodeID=89792&int3rdParentNodeID=89708&int4thParentNodeID=89708&int5thParentNodeID=89708&int6thParentNodeID=89708&int7thParentNodeID=89708&int8thParentNodeID=89708&strSubSite=1&strLHSMenu=89652): Update of online dispute resolution for consumers in cross-border disputes.
Phone Busters (http://www.phonebusters.com/)
Privacy International (http://www.privacyinternational.org/)
Better Business Bureau (http://www.bbbonline.org/consumer/)
Canadian Code of Practice (http://cmcweb.ca/epic/internet/incmc-cmc.nsf/en/fe00064e.html) for Consumer Protection in Electronic Commerce
National Fraud Information Center (http://www.fraud.org/welcome.htm)
RCMP Scams (http://www.rcmp.ca/scams/index_e.htm)
eConsumer (http://www.econsumer.gov/english/index.html)
---------------------------------------------------------
©Please note: While you are welcome to link directly to this thread,
the contents are copyright Melody McKinnon and cannot be copied.
Thank you for respecting the effort that I have put into our content.
---------------------------------------------------------
Tips For Shopping Safely Online
~ Get the refund/return/DOA policy in writing.
~ Get a clear description of what you're buying. Age, size, species name, etc. and preferrably a photo.
~ Obtain shipping costs and a list of other costs such as box charges before confirming your order. Remember to factor in taxes and duty.
~ Find out when the order will be shipped and when you can expect to receive it. Obtain a tracking number once the item has been shipped. Make it clear that you will be expecting this information.
~ Be aware of the laws in both countries. Just because they'll ship it here doesn't mean that it is legal to own. Just because its legal to own doesn't mean its legal to import.
~ Purchasing with Paypal eliminates the need to give your credit card number out to numerous websites. Only Paypal sees your credit card information when you use it. You can also pay using funds from you bank acount via Paypal and again, only Paypal sees your banking information. Paypal also offers buyer protection.
~ When using Paypal, list the items you are ordering, prices, sub-total and total with shipping in the Notes section. This gives both you and the seller a record.
~ Unless you trust the seller, stay away from payment by Western Union and E-Mail Bank Transfers. Although secure in the transaction sense, they offer no buyer protection. If the seller refuses to give you a real name, phone number, address, etc, don't do business using these methods and it is best to avoid them regardless unless you know the seller personally.
~ If there buyer/seller ratings available, check them out. First time sellers are often honest people, but personally I stay away from them whenever possible. Don't be afraid to contact the people who have rated the person in question - they're often more straight-forward and detailed when contacted personally.
~ Don't let strangers into your home. Arrange to meet people in a public place. Let someone know where you'll be and whatever you know about the person you're meeting.
~ Before you fill out an order form, check for the little lock/padlock/key secure server symbol at the bottom of the browser screen. If there's no lock, don't order, its not a secure order form and any average "hacker" could intercept the information.
~ Websites should include contact and location information of the seller/merchant.
~ Read website Privacy Policies.
~ Never send your credit card or other financial information via e-mail as that can be intercepted.
~ Anyone can build a reasonably professional looking website these days - the look does not mean it can be trusted.
~ Set up a separate e-mail account for online transactions, forums, etc so you don't end up being spammed by those who do not practice ethical business.
http://www.emailaddresses.com (http://www.emailaddresses.com/)
~ Although its tempting to use passwords that are easy for you to remember, they are also easy for others to guess. Passwords should be lengthy, use numbers and letters and upper and lowercase.
~ Never connect to a financial institution (bank, paypal, etc) through an e-mail requesting information. Type the proper URL into your browser and visit the site in question. If there's something you should know there will be a notice there. Most insititutions also have a list of fraud notifications. You can always ask the institution if in doubt. Even when the URL looks legit, another can be embedded in the e-mail.
~ Review your credit card and bank statements. Verify all transactions and cancel the card when any suspicious activity is noted.
Recommended Publications & Resources (Free!):
Canadian Marketing Assoc. Consumer Info. (http://www.the-cma.org/consumer/index.cfm)
Credibility on the Web (http://www.consumersinternational.org/Templates/Internal.asp?NodeID=91807&int1stParentNodeID=89652&int2ndParentNodeID=89792&int3rdParentNodeID=89708&int4thParentNodeID=89708&int5thParentNodeID=89708&int6thParentNodeID=89708&int7thParentNodeID=89708&int8thParentNodeID=89708&strSubSite=1&strLHSMenu=89652): An international study of the credibility of consumer information on the Internet.
Disputes in Cyberspace 2001 (http://www.consumersinternational.org/Templates/Internal.asp?NodeID=91797&int1stParentNodeID=89652&int2ndParentNodeID=89792&int3rdParentNodeID=89708&int4thParentNodeID=89708&int5thParentNodeID=89708&int6thParentNodeID=89708&int7thParentNodeID=89708&int8thParentNodeID=89708&strSubSite=1&strLHSMenu=89652): Update of online dispute resolution for consumers in cross-border disputes.
Phone Busters (http://www.phonebusters.com/)
Privacy International (http://www.privacyinternational.org/)
Better Business Bureau (http://www.bbbonline.org/consumer/)
Canadian Code of Practice (http://cmcweb.ca/epic/internet/incmc-cmc.nsf/en/fe00064e.html) for Consumer Protection in Electronic Commerce
National Fraud Information Center (http://www.fraud.org/welcome.htm)
RCMP Scams (http://www.rcmp.ca/scams/index_e.htm)
eConsumer (http://www.econsumer.gov/english/index.html)
---------------------------------------------------------
©Please note: While you are welcome to link directly to this thread,
the contents are copyright Melody McKinnon and cannot be copied.
Thank you for respecting the effort that I have put into our content.
---------------------------------------------------------