Whether buying or selling, follow these tips for secure online shopping

Central Illinois Business Magazine
By Jon Zelle
December, 2005

The holiday season typically is full of running from store to sore purchasing gifts for friends and family.

I’m happy to state that my holiday shopping is nearly completed and I didn’t even have to wrap any of the presents. Additionally, I was able to avoid traffic jams, managed to find everything I was looking for and saved a lot of time not looking for a parking space.

For consumers, the Internet holds untold purchasing potential. As business owners, an online presence holds a wealth of selling potential.

When you’re in business, and when you’re ready to do business with others during this holiday shopping season, there are some basic recommendations we all should follow to experience a better and safer shopping experience.

Online consumers are looking for very specific information about your Web site before they will consider purchasing your products online. To generate more online business, you will want to ensure potential customers their personal information and credit card purchases will be kept confidential.

You can also encourage online consumers to make purchases by providing contact information and return policies in a highly visible location. I always want to talk with a company representative to ask questions or inquire about the availability of certain products. Offering this type of customer service will keep your online consumers coming back to purchase more products in the future.

So whether you are buying or selling goods online, keep in mind that customers should receive a secure environment for online purchases.

You should see two things happen at a secured online Web site:

• The Web address (URL) on site should change from something like http://www.website.com to https://www.website.com. Note the “s” in “https.” This means the page is a secure Web page.
  
• A small lock icon should appear in the browser window indicating the Web page is now secure. It looks like a closed padlock.

When the Web page is secure, all data transmitted is fully encrypted, which means that if anyone is able to intercept the signal between your computer and their Web site, they will not be able to decipher the data.

Data sent though a secure page is virtually impossible to crack. The only problem is some Web sites say they are safe; however, they do not actually have the proper security certificates installed, and therefore your data is not protected at all.

Be sure that the Web site you are on has properly encrypted and secured your data and you will be fine.

Shopping online offers consumers a lot of benefits. The Internet is always open – seven days a week, 24 hours a day – and bargains can be numerous online. Shopping on the Internet is no less safe than shopping in a store or by mail.

Keep the following tips in mind to help ensure that your online shopping experience, and your customer’s experiences, are safe ones:

• Use a secure browser. This is the software you use to navigate the Internet. Your browser should comply with industry security standards, such as Secure Sockets Layer (SSL).

These standards scramble the purchase information you send over the Internet, helping to secure your transaction. Most computers come with a browser installed. You also can download some browsers for free over the Internet.

• When shopping online, avoid using free Internet services that can be found in numerous public locations, such as libraries, bookstores, restaurants, etc. because it increases the chance of you exposing personal information to a hacker, or someone simply looking over your shoulder.
  
• Before making any online purchase, check on the company’s refund and return policies before you place your order. If they are not posted on the company’s Web site, call their customer services phone number and get their policies in writing.
  
• Shop with companies you know. Anyone can set up shop online under almost any name. If you’re not familiar with a merchant, ask for a paper catalog or brochure to get a better idea of their merchandise and services.
  
• Keep your password(s) private. Be creative when you establish a password, and never give it to anyone. Avoid using a telephone number, birth date or a portion of your Social Security number. Instead, use a combination of numbers, letters and symbols.
  
• Pay by credit or gift cards. If you pay online, your transaction will be protected by the Fair Credit Billing Act. Under this law, you have the right to dispute charges under certain circumstances and temporarily withhold payment while the creditor is investigating them.
  
• In the event of unauthorized use of your credit card or charge card, you generally would be held liable only for the first $50 in charges. Some companies offer an online shopping guarantee that ensures you will not be held responsible for any unauthorized charges made online, and some cards may provide additional warranty, return and/or purchase protection benefits.
  
• Keep a record. Be sure to print a copy of your purchase order and confirmation number for your records. Also, you should know that the Mail and Telephone Order Merchandise Rule covers online orders.

This means that unless the company states otherwise, your merchandise must be delivered within 30 days; and if there are delays, the company must notify you.

I hope this information helps you have a better experience selling and shopping on the Internet. Happy Holidays.

For additional information contact:
Neil J. Mulholland, Prairie iNet, 515/440-0848, ext. 106