Tips for buying online safely

The popularization of online shopping has created a new world of possibilities for businesses and customers. It has also, unfortunately, created new risks. Like any other type of commerce, online commerce has its specific challenges and its own problems, from the huge competition produced by such a vast market to the need for parcel transport on an unprecedented scale.

This article is about the security issues that often worry people who shop online and about how you can take advantage of e-commerce more safely.

Distrust of the store is one of the reasons why we sometimes hesitate to buy online. After all, it is harder to trust when we cannot see the face of the person on the other side.

Everything becomes simpler if you already know the physical store associated with the website or if you are already a regular customer. But in cases where you may want to buy from an unfamiliar store, it is worth knowing some easy precautions you can take:

• One of them is simply to trust your instinct when it comes to dubious websites. We all intuitively understand that someone with a legitimate business also tends to take the trouble to build a legitimate website. Although a malicious store may want to appear as trustworthy as possible, most of the time it will not pay attention to every detail. Poor-quality images, language errors, pages that look careless and inconsistent or have functional errors are negative indicators.
• A fundamental and obvious sign of bad faith is a fake URL or one with discrepancies, similar to that of a genuine store that exists, but with small alterations (for example, one letter changed), in order to try to pass itself off fraudulently as the store's URL.
• Investigate websites you do not know for customer opinions, for example on Google or other review sites. But watch out for comments that are strangely similar to one another or that seem suspicious for some reason - they may be fakes posted by the website's operators.
• You can also look up the address and phone number. The contact information of a real business is usually transparent and accessible. An easy way to see whether an address is real is to look it up on Google Maps.
• A strong presence on social media, advertising products, interacting with customers and promoting new offers, is a sign of authenticity.
• Make sure the address begins with “https” (instead of “http”): this is the hallmark (along with the closed padlock symbol in the address bar) of the presence of an SSL certificate, which guarantees an encrypted connection. Do not enter any information on the site if it does not have an SSL certificate.
• Look for certificates issued by reputable third parties with a well-established reputation, which guarantee the site's security and credibility.
• The number of fake stores increases during peak shopping seasons, such as Black Friday or Christmas, in an attempt to take advantage of the chaos and the greater number of people looking for “bargains”. So be especially careful at those times.
• Do not let yourself get so excited by microscopic prices that you “let your guard down”. Although it is often possible to find fantastic deals online, it may also be a typical trick used by a malicious website to attract people. It could be, for example, counterfeit or stolen goods, or items that will never be sent. Prices that seem unrealistic should put your danger instincts on alert.

It is normal for the store to ask you for information in order to complete the sale, or to learn about your preferences, but it is important to have an idea of what is regular and what is suspicious.

A store will ask you for the information needed for payment, the address for shipping the order, and a phone number and email for contact. It may also be interested in your tastes or needs as a customer.

But a legitimate store will not ask you, for example, for your password. Likewise, never reveal information about your bank account or other information unnecessary for the seller. Unusual requests via email or phone, for example asking to verify information about your account, also deserve the utmost scrutiny. A secure company will respect your privacy.

Reliable security software is the best way to protect yourself against computer risks. Install antivirus or antimalware software. Keep your computer's firewall turned on.

A VPN can give you additional protection guarantees. For those who do not use a VPN, the ideal is not to shop over public networks, as they are easier to intercept. Instead, choose to shop at home.

If possible, do not shop through a mobile device browser. If you use your phone, opt instead for the store's official app.

Finally, the useful mobile apps provided by banks let you know when a service is paid for or a transfer is made. In this way, you can keep track of all movements in your account.

The use of strong passwords is important. A password that is too short or predictable is easier to discover. In fact, many websites require strong passwords to be created when the account is set up.

Also pay attention to the payment method and use reliable payment methods. A legitimate online store will provide the possibility to pay through regular methods. Apps that allow the creation of virtual credit cards are a practical way to add an additional layer of protection to your transactions.

And when you finish with the account, make sure to log off your customer account, unless you are sure that the device will not fall into the wrong hands.

Most people pay attention to the returns policy when shopping online, and for good reason. A bad experience with an order that arrives damaged or with the wrong product can be very unpleasant, especially when we have difficulty returning it. However, a clear and detailed returns policy is a sign of a legitimate and reliable store.

An additional precaution is to film the opening of the package, which may be useful later to demonstrate the condition of the order upon arrival.

And if the order actually arrives with a problem, or of course does not arrive, you have several means at your disposal to complain, starting by filing a complaint with the store. Be sure to do so.

As for the transport and return of parcels, opting for non-home delivery, which InPost represents, can bring numerous advantages. One of those advantages is precisely facilitating the parcel return process, which is an unavoidable part of digital commerce, in addition to all the benefits in terms of costs, efficiency and sustainability. Find out more about InPost on our website and on this blog, and experience for yourself the advantages of our network of Pack Points and Lockers.