by Patrick California

Created on: October 16, 2007

Shopping on the Internet is as safe as you make it. Just like when you walk down fifth avenue in New York, you have a multitude of shopping choices with varying degrees of safety. For example, physically shopping in a reputable chain store is comparable with shopping the same store online. When you buy at a national chain store, you are confident in the quality of the merchandise, the warranty, and the security of your transaction. Buying from their web site is the same... As long as you consider them a reputable retailer, you know the goods will be delivered as promised.

With the same example, going to a discount site hosted by a third party you're not familiar with is like buying a purse from a guy on the sidewalk with a cardboard box full of "original merchandise". Would you give that guy your credit card number? Probably not. You are offered a better price, but must risk the chance of lower quality or replica merchandise, without any chance for successful recourse should you be cheated.

Many people are concerned as well about the safety of entering your credit card number into a web site. The best way to be safe is to educate yourself... Research your retailer; find out if they are indeed reputable. Identify if the site is a secure connection. This makes it very hard for someone to steal your credit card information. Consider using Pay Pal or another online account; transfer funds only when you are making a transaction, leaving nothing to steal even if your account number is compromised.

Realistically, it is much easier for a clerk at a local store to steal your credit card number than it is for a hacker to steal it when you buy online... and even easier for that same hacker to steal numbers from the retailer itself... You are at the bottom of the list of potential targets.

The best way to protect yourself is to get help from your bank. Most offer a protection service at a low cost that guarantees your transactions, and will reimburse you immediately should your information be stolen. Keep a close eye on your finances, monitor your balance, and follow up if anything seems fishy. Do your homework before you buy, and don't hand out your credit card numbers to any street vendors.

By putting forth that little bit of extra effort to stay safe you can confidently shop anywhere, online or retail.

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