Buying on the Internet opened the possibility of accessing an immense number of products that were previously unattainable due to distance, visibility, or availability. However, people tend to avoid making purchases electronically for fear of being the victim of fraud or, worse, identity theft. Here are some tips to make purchases on the internet in a safe way.
What are secure pages and why trust them?
The number one tip to avoid scams on the Internet is to make sure that you are shopping on secure pages.
A secure page protects against the possibility that a person outside the transaction may view transmitted electronic information such as credit card numbers, passwords, etc.
Secure pages employ encryption (or encryption) methods. Besides, they have certificates that are endorsed by an authority. The certificate is presented internally by the web page to the search engine (Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, etc.) and this identifies it as a secure page. If an internet browser detects that the submitted certificate is not endorsed by a certification authority, it will let you know immediately.
How to know if a page is safe?
To find out if a secure page is being accessed, browsers present an icon (usually a closed padlock) either in the address bar or in the status bar (bottom right). Sometimes they present more indicators such as colors in the directions or buttons to obtain additional information.
In addition to visual cues, you can check if the site address (which appears in the address bar) starts with HTTPS: //, instead of HTTP: //.
Tips to avoid scams on the Internet
- Make sure you make your purchases on secure pages. As mentioned in previous paragraphs.
- Never provide confidential information online. For example, social security numbers, confidential numbers, etc. To accept a payment, the Internet pages only require information related to the credit card with which you are making your purchase: address of the statement, card number, verification numbers, name of the holder.
- Keep your passwords private. Do not reveal confidential information through emails, instant messages, social networks, or the like.
- Make sure you are on the correct page. At the top of the browser is the address bar; Verify that you are on the desired page. Creating trustworthy and well-known company-like websites is a common crime. Its purpose is to deceive the consumer and obtain credit card numbers. Verify that the address is consistent with the merchant’s name. When in doubt, it is better to search for the page in question using a search engine and make your purchase from there.
- Do a little research on the seller. Especially when there are offers that are too good to be true. Find out what other users and buyers say when the merchant is little known.
Email offers
There are a large number of known frauds by email. One of the most common is that of web pages specifically designed to obtain your access codes or your bank information, presenting you with an offer that is difficult to resist.
Make sure that the email you receive comes from a trusted source. In case you are asked for any private information through this email, discard it immediately.
Take all this information into account and make your purchases on the internet safely. Avoid any action that could lead you to become a victim of cyber fraud.