Secure Shopping: 10 Tips

There are 10 tips for secure shopping that every shopper should follow to ensure the most secure shopping experience possible. Knowing how to securely shop is important and there are several tips to follow when shopping.

1. The first tip is to safeguard your personal information. Whether you are shopping at the local department store or online from the comfort of your home, you always need to make sure you handle your personal information with care. Never give out your social security number and only give out as little self identifying information as possible. If you are shopping in a local store, make sure you have all of your credit cards, driver's license and any other important documents before leaving the checkout.
2. If you are shopping online, only shop secure websites. You can usually tell if a website is secure because there will be a small image of a lock and the web address will start with "https" in the checkout area. Never shop at an online store unless you know the site is secure.
3. Create a secure password when shopping online. You usually have to create an account with most online stores, and it's a good idea to make sure you choose a password that only you could guess. Do not use the same password that you have on any other account.
4. Only shop at the stores you are familiar with. This is especially true online, since there are thousands of online retailers out there. It's a good idea to stick with the more well known stores when it comes to secure shopping. If you do shop at a store you are less familiar with, it's a good idea to do a check to see if anyone has reported having issues with the store. There are several sites online you can use to check out a store's reputation.
   
5. Always keep records. No matter what you purchase or where, make sure to hang on to your receipt or either print out the order confirmation. In case there is any problem with your order or the item you've purchased, you will have proof of purchase.
6. Keep an eye on your bank account. Whenever you purchase something by check or debit card, make sure you check your bank account. Online banking is a great way to keep a close watch on your account. If your account is compromised, you can ward off any future monetary loss by consistently monitoring your bank account.
7. Pay with cash. Unless you are shopping online, it's a good idea to pay with cash. Since there is more of a chance of your information being stolen when you pay with a debit card or check, it's a good idea to pay with cash when you can. The chances of your information being stolen from the grocery store are slim, but it can happen.
8. Use a credit card online. It's more secure to shop with a credit card when purchasing online. If your information is stolen, you can contact your credit card company to have possible fraudulent charges removed.
   
9. Pay through a secure online site. So that you don't have to give your information directly to the company, you can sign up with one of the several sites that act as a third party for payment processing. Not all online stores accept this type of payment, but many do. If you can choose this option, it will definitely make your transaction that more secure.
   
10. Know privacy policies. Know what the store's privacy policies are and what information can be disclosed to a third party. Make sure you know the company's privacy policy before you give out any personal information.