Shopping Online? Here's Some Tips for Staying Safe

Some shoppers have been waiting for today – Cyber Monday, the day online retailers are said to offer big discounts comparable to those offered on Black Friday.

No crowds, no long waits, no aggressive shoppers.

If this is your preferred method of purchase, consider these tips, from Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette's website:

1. Never give out your Social Security Number

"Reputable online merchants should never require you to submit your Social Security number when making a purchase," according to the website. "Unnecessarily providing your Social Security number puts you at great risk of becoming a victim of identity theft."

2. Shop on "secure websites"

"Some ways to determine if a website is secure include addresses that begin with 'https,'" the website says. If you see the 's,' that means the website is secure. However, it might not appear until you actually get to the order page of your purchase. Another indicator of a secure website is a closed lock symbol at the bottom of the screen, according to the Consumer Protection website. 

3. Research

"If you are unfamiliar with a company, you can research them by contacting the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division using the information provided below or by searching the Better Business Bureau website." 

Need help determining if the online company is a legit business? The Consumer Protection Division encourages looking for a physical address on the site and a customer service phone number.

4. Minimize the info you give out when making a purchase

"Some merchants ask for personal information to sell to other merchants, direct marketers, and even telemarketers. Read a merchant's on-line privacy and security policies," the state Consumer Protection website cautions.

Some companies may send "spam," or additional commercial emails not directly related to your order. The Consumer Protection website warns that some companies may sell your address to other online merchants. Creating a separate email account for online shopping may cut down on the amount of spam hitting your inbox.

5. If possible, use the same credit card when shopping online

It may help to track your purchases and detect any fraudulent credit card activity if you use the same credit card. The Consumer Protection site recommends using a card with a low credit limit when shopping online. 

6. Watch for "phishing" or "pharming" scams and keep firewalls and antivirus programs updated

Phishing: "a term used to describe a fraudulent e-mail that pretends to come from companies you may have done business with in the past, or even government agencies. The e-mails try to trick you into providing personal financial information."

The Consumer Protection website adds that "Legitimate businesses and government agencies will never ask you to provide personal information in response to an e-mail."

A growing twist on "phishing" is "pharming." This is an email made to look like a company's order confirmation email, with a bogus order number in the subject line. When the email is opened, it could download spyware or a virus to your computer. For more info, see the Attorney General's previous consumer alert.

As an additional protective step, make sure your anti-virus software and firewalls are current.

7. Be alert for high shipping charges

Some online deals may seem to-good-to-be-true low. That may be because merchants have added 10 to 15 percent in shipping costs, the Consumer Protection website warns. Always take the total cost into account when shopping around.

8. Print and keep copies of receipts

"Make sure you keep these receipts organized and easy to access in case of a problem with the product. Keeping receipts is also important if you would like to return a product," the Consumer Protection website advises.