- There are so many different platforms out there, and it can be easy to stumble upon a malicious online store.
- Purchasing agents and business owners often get into trouble.
- How To Protect Your Data And Money When Purchasing Online?
First, before shopping at an unfamiliar site, read other buyers’ reviews and ignore those you see on the seller’s website. If the website controls its reviews, you’re unlikely to see any critical ones. Let’s probe deeper.
What are Some Red Flags?
- When opening a page, a message appears warning you that the site isn’t secure.
- The site appears “broken”.
- There’s huge psychological pressure to buy something immediately.
- The only payment option is a credit card.
When opening any browser or website, remember that everything you do can be exploited. If you log in with Google or Facebook, your profile and the platform it’s on are visible. However, this isn’t necessarily bad.
Passwords And Logins
From a security perspective, you should register on internet stores through Google, Facebook or a company single sign-on (SSO), for instance. This way, the website will store a user “token,” and if the database is compromised, your password is safe. However, remember, if you do this, log in to the provider you chose first and click the “I agree” button when you get the login pop-up. It’s better not to type passwords in pop-up windows.
Email Address
If you’re buying something you don’t want to see ads for, open your browser in incognito mode and don’t enter your email address. Alternatively, use an anonymous email address or one you don’t usually use. Apple devices offer a feature called “Hide My Email” that works as follows: Apple generates a unique email address through which all emails from the retailer are forwarded to your usual email address. Therefore, the website doesn’t know your real email address.
Is Free Really Free?
Seeing great deals and even free offers often leaves me with divided feelings. Although tempting, I suspect I’m being duped. And occasionally, I am. Naturally, the seller has to earn something, so “free” shipping is included in the price, or a “free” product sample is included in a future purchase. However, this doesn’t make it a bad deal, especially in a B2B context in which shoppers often turn into long-time customers.
But buyers are often “fooled” by psychological tricks. There’s a fine line between informing and cunningly influencing shoppers. Regarding psychological influence, a few tactics are worth highlighting:
- The most innocent is feedback from other buyers. Remember that often only the best reviews are shown.
- Slightly more cunning are the various free add-ons, such as free shipping.
Avoid making hurried purchases. If a website is rushing you, close it and pause for thought. If you decide to proceed, return and buy the product.
In Case Of Mishappening
If a suspicious charge appears on your payment card or money disappears from a financial account, contact your bank or payment institution. If you’ve registered or made a purchase through a website that’s been hacked, change your password everywhere you use the same email/password combination. However, if a site has been hacked, but you logged in with Facebook, Google or a company single sign-on, you should be safe.
Did you subscribe to our newsletter?
It’s free! Click here to subscribe!
Source: Forbes
