Shopping is not as easy and care-free as it used to be. There are now many risks involved in the seemingly simple act of shopping, whether online or in person. Please read the following points to help protect yourself from fraud:

1. Get to know the seller. Make a phone call or send an email and ask them about their products, services and how they run their business.

2. Buy from secure websites only. Look for the padlock icon and “https” in the URL. If the “s” does not follow “http”, then the site may not be secure.

3. Click only on email links you recognize and trust. If the email is a spoof, then the link may be harmful. Hover over the link to check the URL and use your best judgment.

4. Buy from AlertPay “verified” sellers. It is safer to buy from verified members since we have authenticated their identities and businesses.

5. Do your due diligence. Try your hand at some research. Read forums and blogs on specific sellers, contact the seller directly, do what you can to find out about their business.

6. Keep your computer protected. Install an anti-virus, use a firewall, secure your wireless networks, block spam from your email and get the latest software and browser updates.

7. Always log out of sites containing your personal details. If you do not log out of a website containing your personal information, your information can be compromised. This is especially true when using public computers.

8. Use different passwords. Use different and hard-to-guess passwords for all of your online accounts and use a combination of letters, numbers, special characters and upper/lower cases, if possible.

We hope these tips will ensure you the safest and most satisfying online shopping experience.

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Money Debate recommends you to open a AlertPay account.