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How to Shop Online Safely

8 minute read

A complete guide to buying online without getting scammed or having your information stolen.

Online shopping is one of the great conveniences of modern life. You can order almost anything from your couch and have it delivered to your door. But this convenience comes with some risks—scam websites, stolen credit cards, and fake products are more common than ever.

The good news? With a few simple habits, you can shop online confidently and safely. This guide will show you exactly what to look for.

Before You Buy: Is This Website Real?

Before entering any payment information, take 60 seconds to verify the website is legitimate. Scammers create fake shopping sites that look professional but exist only to steal your money or information.

Quick Checks (Do These Every Time)

Look at the web address (URL) carefully:

  • Does it look right? Compare it to what you’d expect (amazon.com vs amaz0n-deals.com)
  • Watch for misspellings or extra words added
  • The padlock icon (🔒) alone doesn’t mean a site is safe—scammers have padlocks too

Check for real contact information:

  • A real business has a phone number you can call
  • Look for a physical address (not just a P.O. box)
  • Try calling the number—does someone answer?

Evaluate the prices:

  • If designer handbags are 80% off, something is wrong
  • Scam sites lure you with prices that are too good to be true
  • Real retailers have sales, but not everything at unbelievable discounts

Red Flags That Should Stop You

🚩 No contact information — Legitimate businesses want you to reach them

🚩 Brand new website — Check when it was created at whois.com. If it’s only weeks old, be very suspicious

🚩 Only accepts unusual payment — Wire transfers, gift cards, or cryptocurrency mean no protection for you

🚩 Prices too good to be true — 90% off designer items? That’s a scam

🚩 Poor grammar and spelling — Professional businesses proofread their websites

🚩 Stock photos with watermarks — Real stores don’t steal product images

🚩 No customer reviews anywhere — Or reviews that all sound the same

How to Verify a New-to-You Store

If you find a store you’ve never heard of:

  1. Search for reviews — Google “[store name] reviews” or “[store name] scam”
  2. Check the Better Business Bureau — bbb.org rates businesses
  3. Look for them on social media — Real businesses usually have active Facebook or Instagram pages with real customers
  4. Ask around — Have your friends or family heard of them?
When in doubt, buy somewhere else. There's almost always a trusted retailer that sells the same product. The convenience of a slightly better price isn't worth the risk.

How to Pay Safely

Not all payment methods are created equal. Some give you excellent protection if something goes wrong. Others leave you with almost no recourse.

Best to Worst Payment Methods

🥇 Credit Card — Your Best Choice

This is the safest way to shop online. Here’s why:

  • Strong legal protection: Federal law limits your liability to $50 for fraud, and most cards offer $0 liability
  • Easy disputes: If something goes wrong, you can dispute the charge before paying your bill
  • Money is borrowed, not yours: Fraud comes out of the bank’s pocket first, not your checking account
  • Time to catch problems: You have weeks to review charges before your bill is due

Use a credit card (not debit) for all online purchases.

🥈 PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay — Also Good

These add an extra layer of protection:

  • The seller never sees your actual card number
  • Good buyer protection policies
  • Easy to dispute fraudulent charges
  • Works well for less familiar websites

🥉 Debit Card — Use With Caution

Debit cards connect directly to your bank account:

  • Money comes out of your account immediately
  • If fraud happens, your actual money is gone while you fight to get it back
  • Harder and slower to recover stolen funds
  • Less legal protection than credit cards

If you must use debit, use it only on major, trusted retailers.

❌ Never Use These for Online Shopping

  • Wire transfers — Money is gone instantly, no way to recover
  • Gift cards — Scammers love these because they’re untraceable
  • Cryptocurrency — No consumer protection whatsoever
  • Direct bank transfers — Same as wire transfers

Any legitimate business will accept credit cards. If they only accept these unusual methods, walk away.

At Checkout: Your Final Safety Check

Before you click “Place Order,” take these final steps:

1. Double-Check the Web Address

Look at the URL one more time. Make sure you’re still on the real website and haven’t been redirected somewhere else.

2. Don’t Save Your Card (Unless You Trust Completely)

Many sites offer to save your credit card for next time. Only do this on major retailers you shop with frequently (Amazon, Target, Walmart). For smaller or one-time purchases, enter your card each time.

3. Use a Unique Password

If the site requires an account, create a password you don’t use anywhere else. If that site gets hacked, your other accounts stay safe.

4. Review the Final Price

Scam sites sometimes add hidden fees at checkout—”shipping insurance,” “handling charges,” or other surprises. Make sure the total matches what you expected.

5. Save Your Confirmation

After purchasing:

  • Take a screenshot of the confirmation page
  • Save the confirmation email
  • Keep these until your order arrives and you’re satisfied

After You Buy: Staying Safe

Your job isn’t done after clicking “Purchase.”

Track Your Package Safely

  • Write down or save your tracking number
  • Go directly to the carrier’s website to track (usps.com, fedex.com, ups.com)
  • Don’t click tracking links in text messages—these are often scams

Watch for Fake “Delivery Problem” Messages

Scammers know you’re expecting packages and will send fake texts like:

“USPS: Delivery problem. Click here to reschedule.”

These are almost always scams. Instead:

  • Go directly to usps.com, fedex.com, or ups.com
  • Enter your tracking number from your order confirmation
  • Never click links in unexpected texts about deliveries

Check Your Bank Statement

Review your credit card statement when it arrives:

  • Is the charge amount correct?
  • Do you recognize all the charges?
  • Report anything suspicious immediately

Shopping on Marketplaces

eBay, Amazon third-party sellers, Facebook Marketplace, and similar platforms have their own rules.

Do:

✓ Check seller ratings — Look for sellers with many positive reviews over time

✓ Read the reviews carefully — Do they sound like real customers?

✓ Use the platform’s payment system — This protects you if something goes wrong

✓ Read the return policy before buying

✓ For local pickups, meet in public — Many police stations have “safe exchange zones”

✓ Bring someone with you for expensive items

Don’t:

✗ Pay outside the platform — If a seller asks you to Venmo them instead, you lose all protection

✗ Buy from brand-new sellers with no history — Unless you’re willing to risk losing your money

✗ Send money before receiving items for local sales

✗ Share personal information beyond what’s needed for the transaction

The “Too Good to Be True” Test

If someone is selling a $1,000 item for $200, ask yourself:

  • Why would they do that?
  • Could this be stolen merchandise?
  • Is this a scam?

Scammers list popular items at amazing prices, collect payments, and disappear. If it seems too good to be true, it almost certainly is.

When Something Goes Wrong

Sometimes problems happen even when you’re careful. Here’s what to do:

Item Never Arrived

Step 1: Contact the seller through the platform. Give them a chance to respond.

Step 2: Wait 48 hours. If no response, file a dispute with the platform (eBay, Amazon, etc.)

Step 3: If you paid by credit card and can’t resolve it, call your credit card company and dispute the charge.

Item Isn’t What Was Described

Step 1: Take photos documenting the problem

Step 2: Contact the seller and request a return/refund

Step 3: If they refuse, escalate to the platform

Step 4: Credit card dispute as a last resort

You Were Charged Wrong

Step 1: Contact the seller first to give them a chance to fix it

Step 2: If no resolution, call your credit card company

Quick Summary

Remember these key points:

✓ Use credit cards — They offer the best protection

✓ Verify unfamiliar websites — Search for reviews, check contact info, be suspicious of incredible prices

✓ Never pay by wire transfer, gift card, or crypto — No protection, no recourse

✓ If the price seems too good to be true, it is — Walk away

✓ Save your confirmations — Keep records until you receive your order

✓ Go directly to carrier websites — Don’t click links in “delivery problem” texts

✓ When in doubt, shop somewhere you trust — A slightly higher price is worth your peace of mind