Safe Online Shopping Guide
Protect yourself from scams, fraud, and identity theft while shopping online.
Online Shopping Security Essentials
Online shopping fraud costs consumers $4.4 billion annually. Follow these guidelines to shop safely and protect your financial information.
Before You Shop: Essential Checks
Verify HTTPS and Padlock
Check for "https://" in the URL and a padlock icon in the address bar. Never enter payment details on non-secure sites.
Research the Seller
Google the company name + "scam" or "review". Check BBB ratings, Trustpilot reviews, and how long domain has existed.
Verify Contact Information
Legitimate businesses have physical addresses, phone numbers, and customer service. Test contact methods before buying.
Check for Warning Signs
Too-good-to-be-true prices, poor grammar, pressure tactics, no return policy, or requests for unusual payment methods.
Secure Payment Methods
Best: Credit Cards
Strong fraud protection, dispute rights, liability limited to $50. Virtual card numbers available from many issuers.
Good: PayPal/Digital Wallets
Buyer protection, doesn't expose card details to merchant. Apple Pay, Google Pay also secure options.
Caution: Debit Cards
Limited fraud protection, direct access to bank account. Use only on trusted sites with known merchants.
Never: Wire Transfer/Gift Cards
No buyer protection, impossible to reverse. Legitimate businesses never require these payment methods.
Red Flags: Scam Indicators
- Prices 50%+ below market value for brand-name items
- Website created within the last few months
- No social media presence or fake followers
- Only accepts cryptocurrency, wire transfer, or gift cards
- Copied product descriptions and images from other sites
- Pressure to "act now" or "limited time" without reason
- Email from free providers (Gmail, Yahoo) instead of company domain
- Requests for excessive personal information
- No return policy or unrealistic guarantees
- Poor website design, broken links, or spelling errors
Shopping on Major Platforms
Amazon
Buy from Amazon directly or verified sellers. Check "Sold by" and ratings. Use Amazon's payment system only.
eBay
Check seller feedback score and history. Use PayPal for protection. Read return policy carefully.
Facebook Marketplace
Meet in public places for local pickups. Never wire money. Use platform's payment system when available.
Instagram/Social Media
High fraud risk. Verify business legitimacy. Check for physical store or established website.
Protecting Your Information
Use Unique Passwords
Different password for each shopping site. Use password manager. Enable 2FA where available.
Create Shopping Email
Separate email for shopping to contain breaches and track purchase confirmations.
Monitor Bank Statements
Check accounts weekly. Set up transaction alerts. Report unauthorized charges immediately.
Use Virtual Card Numbers
Many banks offer disposable card numbers. Use for one-time purchases or sketchy sites.
Shop on Secure Networks
Avoid public Wi-Fi for purchases. Use VPN if shopping on public networks.
If You're Scammed
Contact Your Bank Immediately
Dispute charge, freeze card, request chargeback. Time limits apply - act within 60 days.
Document Everything
Screenshots of site, emails, receipts, tracking numbers. Save all correspondence.
Report to Authorities
FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, IC3.gov for internet crimes, BBB, state attorney general.
Check Credit Reports
If you provided SSN or extensive personal info, monitor for identity theft.
Holiday Shopping Safety
- Scammers increase activity during Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and holiday season
- Fake delivery notifications increase - verify tracking directly with carrier
- Phishing emails disguised as order confirmations and shipping updates
- Fake charity scams - research charities at CharityNavigator.org
- Package theft - use delivery lockers, require signatures, or ship to work