Scam-Proof Online Shopping is Easier Than You Think
Posted: Wednesday, December 16, 2009
by Mogama
http://www.mogama.info
Starting my online life in 1991, it took a while before I actually bought something online. I think the first thing I paid for online was a domain name to build my first website. Ebay became my gateway to Online shopping, and I would bid on eBay auctions just for the thrill of bidding. Then one day I actually won an auction, and I had to pay. It was an experience of fear and trembling.
Over these 18 years, it is striking that I can report just a couple of incidents related to online purchases that were scams. All of my Internet scam experiences have been related to investment schemes and membership websites.
Here is how I do scam-proof online shopping...
First, I open Safari as my web browser, which I have found to be very secure. In fact, I use Safari for online banking. The pop-ups that sneak around Internet Explorer's settings have a tough time showing up when I browse the web with Safari. Not only is Safari mean on pop-ups, this browser is also lean and super fast. During the few times when Safari is acting up, I use FireFox for Internet transactions. I only use Explorer when online shopping or banking is not involved.
Second, because I quit using credit cards (I just couldn't keep my balance under ten grand and couldn't pay it off every month), I keep my online shopping to well-known vendors like Tiger Direct, Dell, Christian Book Distributors, Wal-Mart, and few others. I use my check card with these vendors without fear. Actually, even when I used credit cards, I mostly stuck to recognizable names, and when I broke that rule my heart would keep pounding heavily until the package showed up on my front porch.
Third, when I'm looking for killer deals, I use eBay, mostly choosing Top-Rated Sellers who prefer PayPal and are PayPal-verified. I feel even more confident buying on eBay, since that company bought PayPal. And if there's a problem with PayPal, I call 402-935-2050 to speak with a human being.
Fourth, on eBay, I opt for “Buy It Now" items, because I no longer enjoy bidding on auctions. But before clicking the “Buy It Now" tab, I check the eBay feedback of the seller. The rating system on eBay is a firm enough guide for finding honest, responsible sellers; I only buy from sellers with at least 98% positive feedback rating. Often I will exchange email with a seller before deciding to buy. When I ask for a phone number, and the seller gives me one, I'll call to speak with someone. I ask the seller if I'll receive tracking information when the item ships through UPS, US Postal Service, or FedEx. Then I base my purchasing decision on the quality of this communication.
In the few times that I buy from online strangers, I go to Google, Yahoo or a good search engine and type the name of the business, seller or offer in the search box with the word “scam", “complaint" or “rip off". Example: “smart savings center scam", or “battery edge complaint", or “free credit report rip off". I check the search results to see if others have been duped by the seller or offer.
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)Very useful article.There are lots of other ways to check out the seller's credentials as well. For example, I have testimonials on my website.Please log in to respond to this comment.Thanks, Zhana, for reading. Could you list some of the other ways to help people avoid online scammers? And I want to take a look at your website... what's the URL? ~mogama~Please log in to respond to this comment.Thanks, Mogama. They are not letting me post my URL, so please contact me privately.The best way to check out a seller's reputation is to read articles by the person (such as yours and mine) or other online content (such as my articles and my blog). Over time, you will be able to tell whether the seller and/or his or her company can be trusted.You can also see who the person associates with and, if you want to, approach them for a recommendation.None of these approaches are foolproof, but they will help you to distinguish scammers from legitimate sellers.Please log in to respond to this comment.Your tips are useful. Kudos, Zhana. ~mogama~Please log in to respond to this comment.
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