Ahhh, the Internet. What an invention. It’s no secret that browsing and buying online can save you time, money, and effort. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) strongly recommends that you stop and think before you click to prevent an online Scrooge from interfering with your purchases and, ultimately, your holiday fun.
The FTC and the high-tech industry recently launched OnguardOnline, a campaign to help consumers practice online safety in their daily online routines. Taking a few precautions when you’re online can help minimize the chances of a mishap. Among the tips from www.OnGuardOnline.gov are:
- Know whom you’re dealing with. Anyone can set up shop online. Confirm an online seller’s physical address and phone number in case you need to get in touch with them. If you get an e-mail or pop-up message from the seller while you’re browsing that asks for financial information, don’t reply or click on the link in the message. Remember, legitimate companies don’t ask for this information via e-mail or pop-ups.
- Read between the lines. Read the seller’s description of the product closely, especially the fine print. Words like “refurbished,” “vintage,” or “close-out” may indicate that the product is in less-than-mint condition. Name-brand items with “too good to be true” prices could be counterfeits.
- Calculate the costs. Check out websites that offer price comparisons, and compare “apples to apples.” Factor shipping and handling into the total cost of the order. Then, stack these costs against your budget and needs.
- Pay by credit or charge card. Do not send cash under any circumstances. If you pay by credit or charge card online, your transaction will be protected by the Fair Credit Billing Act. Under this law, you have the right to dispute charges under certain circumstances and temporarily withhold payment while the creditor is investigated. In the event your credit or charge card is used without your knowledge and permission, you generally are liable for no more than $50 in charges per card. Many companies do not hold consumers responsible for any unauthorized charges made online, and some card issuers may provide additional warranty, return, and/or purchase protection benefits.
- Review the terms of the deal, such as refund policies and delivery dates. Can you return the item for a full refund? If you return it, who pays the shipping costs or restocking fees? Check on when you can expect to receive your order. The law requires sellers to ship items as promised or within 30 days after the order date if no specific date is promised. Can the recipient return your gift? If so, ask that a gift receipt be included in the package.
- Keep a paper trail. Print and save records of your online transactions, including the product description and price, the online receipt, and copies of any e-mail you exchange with the seller. Read your credit card statements as you receive them to be on the lookout for unauthorized charges.
- Don’t e-mail your financial information. E-mail is not a secure method of transmitting financial or personal information like your credit card, checking account, or Social Security number. If you begin a transaction and want to provide your financial information through an organization’s website, look for indicators that the site is secure, like a lock icon on the browser’s status bar or a URL for a website that begins “https:” (the “s” stands for “secure”). Unfortunately, no indicator is foolproof; some fraudulent sites have forged security icons.
- Use antivirus software and a firewall and update them regularly. Antivirus software protects your computer from viruses that can destroy your data, slow your computer’s performance, cause a crash, or even allow spammers to send e-mail through your account. It scans your computer and incoming e-mail for viruses and deletes them. Your antivirus software should update routinely with antidotes to the latest “bugs” circulating through the Internet. Firewalls help keep hackers from using your computer to send out your personal information without your permission. Think of a firewall as a guard, watching for outside attempts to access your system and blocking communications to and from sources you don’t permit. If your operating system doesn’t include a firewall, get a separate software firewall, or install a hardware firewall—an external device that includes firewall software.
- Check a company’s privacy policy before doing business. It should let you know what personal information the website operators are collecting, why, and how they’re going to use it. If you can’t find a privacy policy—or if you can’t understand it—consider taking your business to another site that’s more security-conscious and customer-friendly.
Researchers argue that this may be happening in penis also. http://www.dentech.co/?shop=6989 buy cipla tadalafil Erectile dysfunction, or ED, is overnight shipping of cialis now understood by health professionals to be relatively widespread. These statistics have been provided by the UK Health Center, 5% men between age groups 40 on line levitra and 65, and 20% men aged above 65 should not take this drug unless they can tolerate the pain. Other factors getting viagra in australia such as illicit drugs, heart diseases, age, and diabetes can also affect a man’s ability to accomplish or have an erection during the intimate moments.