There are plenty of reasons people are embracing online shopping. Not only is it a safe and contactless way to shop, but it also helps save on time by allowing you to shop from anywhere. There are also plenty of discounts available online where shoppers can save lots of money. For example, cashback sites pay you to shop online by giving you a percentage of the amount spent back. This means that if you used a cashback site to shop from a store like Fit Flop, you will get a Fit Flop cashback that you can use for other purchases. You can also redeem the Fit Flop cashback for cash. With such offers up for grabs, online shopping is becoming one of the most convenient and cost-effective ways to shop.
With all its pros, there are still some cons to online shopping. One downside is that scammers are always on the prowl looking for easy prey. This means it is important to take safety precautions when shopping online.
Use Familiar Websites
While you may come across unfamiliar websites offering amazing discounts, it is always best to work with verified vendors. In most cases, scammers use discounts and sales to lure people to fake websites and then capture their personal details for fraudulent use. This is why it is important to stick to familiar trusted websites.
For instance, if you wanted to shop from Ann Taylor, it is safest to go to the actual company website or work with a cashback site that has partnered with the store. When you use a cashback site, you will find a link to the official Ann Taylor store. Once you shop and checkout as usual you will receive Ann Taylor cashback on your purchase, the cashback site will offer you a percentage of your total purchase back and you can then use this Ann Taylor cashback to buy more stuff.
Look for Online Sites with a Secure Sockets Layer
A secure sockets layer, or SSL, protects your personal information from being acquired by third parties. By using a site that is secured you will be able to keep your personal information protected. In most cases, your browser will alert you when you are accessing a site that is not secure. Secured sites will also have a lock or padlock symbol to the left of the URL in the address bar.
Don't Overshare
Be wary of sites that ask you for too much personal information like your social security number or birthdate. Legitimate sites do not need that kind of information to process an order. If you notice that a vendor is asking for personal details that have nothing to do with the purchase, do not proceed with the transaction. Most cases of identity theft start when scammers obtain enough personal details to commit fraud.
Create Strong Passwords
While a single password is easy to remember, avoid using the same password for multiple sites. This is one of the easiest ways to get scammed since a single password will give scammers access to all your accounts. Take time to come up with strong passwords that are hard to guess. It is also recommended that you change your passwords regularly to reduce the risk of being scammed.
Source: http://awesomecashbackrebates.com/macys-cashback/
