For many of us, spending time in crowded shopping centres is very challenging – particularly when we are still trying to avoid COVID-19. You can avoid the crush and shop any time of the day or night if you do it online.
Have fun without the stress of crowds! And to make sure you stay safe, follow these easy rules:
1. Only shop on secure sites
Before you enter your payment details or login to a site, look for the ‘https://’ (the ‘s’ stands for secure) and locked padlock in your browser’s address bar at the top of the web page.
2. Use a secure payment method
Pay with a credit card or PayPal as they offer more protection than debit cards. Avoid online retailers that ask for payment via money orders, Bitcoin or gift cards. PayPal is very safe – see BeConnected’s explanation of PayPal [https://beconnected.esafety.gov.au/articles-and-tips/paypal-how-does-it-work]
3. Only buy from online stores that have a good reputation
If you’re not familiar with the retailer, check online reviews and look out for things like the number of reviews (the higher the better) and make sure they are recent. Read the reviews thoroughly – bad reviews can indicate if there’s a problem that is important to you.
4. Check the terms and conditions before you buy
What’s the return policy? How long do you have before you can return the item? Links to delivery and returns information is normally found at the bottom of a retailer’s web page. Check whether your goods will arrive in time and make allowances for the Christmas rush. See Australia Post last sending dates (https://auspost.com.au/sending/christmas-sending-dates)
5. Read product descriptions carefully
Know what you’re paying for and check for any additional costs like delivery fees and credit card surcharges. If you’re buying from an overseas retailer, check the price is in Australian dollars – it’s very easy (and costly!) to confuse US dollars for Australian dollars when the currency is not listed next to the price. Check how long before you receive your product from overseas retailers.
6. Keep your device secure and up-to-date
Make sure your device is running the latest operating system and browser software.
7. Keep copies of all communications
Keep all confirmation emails and receipts, and check your bank statements too. You can save copies in print of course, but you can also save pages as pdfs or take a screengrab. File them systematically so you can retrieve them if needed.
Adapted from “What you need to know about shopping online.” BeConnected https://beconnected.esafety.gov.au/articles-and-tips/what-you-need-to-know-about-shopping-online#Tips%20for%20a%20safer%20online%20shopping%20experience, accessed 6 December 2022