It is a good idea to shop with the reputable retailers you know from the high street. Before you try a new online retailer read their privacy policies on the website, look for the actual location of the company (address and phone number) and do further online checks about the company and whether previous customers have had satisfactory purchases from them.
Read the company's refund and returns policy before making a purchase and find out where your orders can be returned if they turn out to be the wrong size or colour.
Be sure you understand everything before placing an order, making certain of the price, postage and restrictions, especially when involving cross-border customs for international purchases. Know the delivery times and courier or any terms to a service agreement.
Whether you're shopping in person, online or over the phone, most major credit card companies have a zero cardholder liability policy, protecting you from fraud. This means you're not liable for any unauthorised transactions charged to your card.
A 128-bit encryption for handling credit card transactions online is a legal requirement in many countries. For this reason websites redirect to third party payment gateways during the checkout process; this is not a problem, many gateways are provided by the top banks you already know and in recent years the more merchant friendly services like PayPal have become very popular. 128-bit encryption is the highest security level possible, ensuring your credit card number is electronically scrambled before it is sent to the retailer, bank or provider via the Internet. So, whether it's the merchant's website or a third party credit card handling process, always check that the page requesting your card details is using 128-bit encryption.
To find out if your browser uses 128-bit encryption, click Help at the top of your computer screen. Then click About Internet Explorer.
If a website is secure, it will show a lock or key icon in the bottom left hand corner of the screen. Whenever a page on a site requests your credit card details, always look for the padlock, this icon is your assurance that only you and the merchant can view the transaction details. If you cannot see the icon in your browser, turn on the Status Bar, located under View on the menu bar.
Look for the prefix "https:" in the web address box. This is a sure sign that you are in a safe environment when you start inputting confidential details.
Always keep a hard copy record of your purchases for tracking delivery. Make sure you note not only the Internet address but other important merchant details and always print off purchase confirmations and save any e-mails.
Never send payment information via e-mail. E-mail is not encrypted and is therefore not secure. Any email requesting confidential information is often a spoof and does not originate from the bank or merchant it claims. Never respond to a spoof email, report it and delete it.
Always check your bank and credit card statements when they arrive each month and report anything that you're not too sure of immediately.
It's a good idea to file all statements and receipts for at least 18 months. When it is finally time to dispose of the paperwork, always shred. It is now recommended for additional security that you use a cross-cut shredder which produces smaller shred particles making it harder to piece together, reduces bulk waste and makes it ideal for composting.