PC Security: Website
Security Rules of the Road
by Ainuddin Mohamad
While many e-commerce Websites
are reputable and have taken the necessary safety precautions
to protect you, it never hurts to always proceed cautiously.
In 2004,
online consumer spending was at a record $65.1 billion. More
and more people are attracted to the ease of online shopping
and are spending higher amounts. Unfortunately, the chances
of becoming a victim of Internet fraud are also increasing.
The Internet National Fraud Center Watch reported that the
average loss to fraud victims for just the first six months of
2005 was $2,579. This is compared to the $895 average for
all of 2004. Complaints relating to general merchandise
purchases (goods never received or misrepresented) accounted
for 30% of Internet fraud complaints, and auction purchases
(goods never received or misrepresented) topped the list at
44%.
While many
e-commerce Websites are reputable and have taken the necessary
safety precautions to protect you, it never hurts to always
proceed cautiously. If you are making an online purchase
consider these easy steps:
1.
Use only one credit card,
preferably with a low credit limit, when making online
purchases. Avoid using an ATM or debit card.
2.
Be wary of unsolicited offers by
sellers. The Internet National Fraud Information Center Watch
reported that email, as a method of contact by Internet
scammers was up 22% in 2004.While the offer may be legitimate,
spammers like to use this tactic to side-step reputable sites
that provide consumer protection for online purchases.
3.
Use only reputable e-commerce
websites that list a street address and telephone number in
case you need to contact them directly.
4.
Read the website’s privacy
policy. Some websites may reserve the right to sell/give your
information to a third party. Check the document to see if
they allow an opportunity to “opt-out” of receiving special
offers from third-party vendors or for permission to share
your personal information.
5.
Check for a lock symbol in the
status bar at the bottom of your Web browser window. Also, do
not provide your personal information if the website address
doesn’t start with “https” (a sign that the site is using a
secure server).
6.
Choose only verified sellers.
Check to see if the vendor is a verified member of a reputable
third party such as the Better Business Bureau, VeriSign, or
Guardian eCommerce. These third-party sites help to ensure
online consumers will be protected when shopping or conducting
e-commerce transactions.
7.
Check that the delivery date
posted is reasonable. If you have not dealt with the vendor
on a regular basis, be wary of any Website that states the
shipment will be delayed 20 or more days. Delivery dates of
7-10 days are more common.
8.
Keep a paper trail of all online
transactions. Print out a hard copy of the transaction and
keep it in a file for future reference.
9.
Be wary of website offers that
just sound too good to be true. The Internet is littered with
get rich quick scams and false advertising claims.
Investigate all claims thoroughly before proceeding.
10.
If you do not receive what you
paid for, and the vendor will not return your emails or calls,
contact your state’s Department of Consumer Affairs for
further assistance.
About the Author
Ainuddin Mohamad is the Webmaster of
http://www.BestWebsites.com.my which is a Directory of Best Websites. Since
July 2000
BestWebsites.com.my has featured thousands of best websites in many
categories of interest with descriptions/reviews given by leading publications
and webmasters.
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