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| Nervous About Paying Online |
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ARE YOU NERVOUS ABOUT PAYING ONLINE?
It's understandable that you may be nervous about paying online if it's something you haven't done before. To be honest, the same general rules apply as when you're shopping on any high street - go for the brands you trust, always keep an eye on credit card safety and if something feels uncomfortable, trust your instincts and don't do it.
However, we recognise that while the rules may be similar, the situation is different. As we want you to feel safe and secure wherever and whenever you decide to shop online, we've pulled together some safety tips to help you stay safe.
email Safety
Don't click on emails that ask you to update your bank, credit card or other payment or personal details. The chances are, these are "spoof" or "phishing" emails - in other words they are fakes. Many well-known sites, such as eBay and PayPal, are plagued by unscrupulous fraudsters who target their users by sending them emails pretending to be from the legitimate company. Even if the email has an eBay email address, an eBay header, and looks like an eBay email, DO NOT CLICK ON IT. Go to My eBay, and check in My Messages. All genuine eBay emails also appear in My Messages. If you're still not sure, forward the email to spoof@ebay.co.uk or spoof@ebay.ie and we'll get back to you very quickly to let you know if it's real or not. Apply these same rules to any emails asking you to update personal details - no reputable web site will ask you to do this these days, because of the high risk of fraud.
Don't give your password out
Remember that you are liable for activity on your account, including honouring any bids or commitments to buy. We're not suggesting here that you shouldn't trust your nearest and dearest, but even close relatives can get carried away when they're spending someone else's money, and they may not make the same informed decisions as you do about protecting and checking your account. If somebody wants you to bid on their behalf, do it yourself or, better still, encourage them to set up their own account.
Check how much you're covered for. Particularly if you're buying high-priced items, it's good to know what your credit card, or the web site you're buying from, or the payment system you're using, offers in the form of protection. Many credit cards insure online purchases, and both eBay and PayPal have Buyer Protection programmes. Check with your other favourite sites - we hope you'll never need to use them, but it's always best to be prepared.
General safety when buying online
If you are buying from a web site that sends the goods directly to you, make sure it is somebody you trust, just as you would on the high street. Check their returns policy, and the amount and length of the guarantee. Ask for details of their customer service department so you know who to contact in the unlikely even that something does go wrong.
As always, use your common sense and trust your intuition, and remember the golden rules - if it feels uncomfortable, don't do it; and if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Happy shopping!
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Must use Buy It Now and PayPal.
