| Have you ever bought a product or service from the | | | | phone or request them by e-mail.Personal information |
| internet?Yes? Me too. You're not alone...Some of the | | | | includes: your address, e-mail address, phone number, |
| reasons why most people are shopping online are: | | | | social security number, drivers license, age, information |
| they can buy anything at anytime because Internet | | | | about your family.Don't give them to any stranger and, |
| shopping is available 24 hours, all the time.You can | | | | also, teach your children not to do so.(4) Keep your |
| shop from the convenience of your home. You can | | | | passwords private.When creating a password, avoid |
| avoid traffic and crowding at the malls.Online shopping | | | | using phone numbers, birth dates or social security |
| is one of the best ways to locate hard-to-find items | | | | numbers.Be creative. Use a password that is not easy |
| not available in your local stores.Whatever you buy | | | | for others to guess, and yet not easy for you to |
| can be delivered by mail to your house.Most online | | | | forget.Change your passwords often. Use phrases to |
| stores and companies provide excellent values and | | | | help you remember them.Don't disclose passwords to |
| discount prices because they do not have to pay the | | | | anyone.(5) Use a credit (but never debit) card to make |
| overhead of owning a physical business that will cost | | | | your payment.Be sure to keep all credit card payment |
| them insurance, employee pay, taxes and | | | | receipts. Check your credit card account statements |
| more.VeriSign, Inc. says that online sales recorded | | | | to be able to spot any unauthorized charges.When |
| during the prime holidays shopping season was about | | | | you buy certain goods and services from some |
| $2.2 billion dollars.According to a study by Forrester | | | | companies, sometimes they will keep billing you |
| Research Company, by 2010, online sales will reach | | | | thereafter. So scrutinize your statements. If you see a |
| $331 billion dollars.More consumers are shopping online | | | | charge you're not sure of, call the billing merchant and |
| today than a year ago. The range of products they | | | | check it out.Keep your credit cards secure.Avoid |
| buy are many: software, hardware, electronics, digital | | | | making a payment using your credit card on a public |
| products, music, toys, e-books, books, programs, DVD, | | | | computer.Report any lost credit cards immediately and |
| flowers, pets, jewelry, clothes, air tickets, insurance, | | | | have them cancelled. Don't give anyone that you don't |
| cars, prescription drugs, comic books, games, gifts and | | | | know your credit card number.(6) Read the return |
| more.They are flocking to buy from online bookstores, | | | | policy before placing an order.Be sure that you read |
| software stores, online computer stores, target stores, | | | | and understand the return policy and warranty.(7) |
| pet stores, liquor stores, drug stores, music stores, | | | | Read and understand the company's privacy |
| furniture stores, fabric stores, the Disney store, outlet | | | | statement (or policy).A privacy statement tells you |
| stores, surplus stores, discount stores, thrift stores, gift | | | | how and why a business is collecting your information, |
| stores, candy stores, lingerie stores, sports stores, | | | | and how that information may be used. |
| video stores, sex stores, department stores, game | | | | You may find the company's privacy statement (or |
| stores, clothing stores and others.Be a smart and | | | | policy) at the very bottom of the home page or inside |
| savvy online shopper. Shop wisely and safely.Here are | | | | their "Terms & Conditions" or "Terms of Service" |
| a few tips to help you do your online shopping safely.(1) | | | | (TOS).(8) Use a secure browser and server.Be sure |
| Shop at the websites of companies that you know | | | | whatever browser you're using complies with the |
| and are popular offline.If you're not sure of the | | | | industry's security standards, such as secure sockets |
| company, request their catalog or brochure first.Be | | | | layer (SSL).This security protocol scrambles or |
| sure they have a physical address and phone, as well | | | | encrypts the personal information you send over the |
| as an e-mail address. Call them and speak to a human | | | | Internet to ensure your transaction is secured.How do |
| being first.Check with the yellow pages and the Better | | | | you know if the server is secure where you're making |
| Business Bureaus to be sure the company is | | | | a payment?If a Web site is using secure technology, |
| legitimate.Read all the fine print and the refund policy | | | | its Web address begins with https and a tiny locked |
| before you place an order.You may read about | | | | padlock appears at the bottom right corner of the |
| product reviews and what other shoppers have to | | | | screen.(9) Check out a few stores and compare |
| say about a company at: | | | | prices before buying. |
| are some internet shopping agents' sites: | | | | Look for hidden costs such as shipping and |
| read about reviews on shopping stores, regarding | | | | handling.(10) Use Yahoo Search Engine for all your |
| ease of use, pricing, selection and service go to: | | | | searches.Yahoo continues to be, not only the largest |
| , read about web business frauds and get help to | | | | online company, but also, the best Search Engine.Unlike |
| avoid being a victim, go to: | | | | the other popular Search engine, which keeps |
| , , Keep a record of all your purchases.Most people | | | | companies in a sandbox for many months and |
| are by nature disorganized and unable to keep | | | | refuses to give them rankings for many months, |
| records. Learn to keep records of all your online | | | | Yahoo is pro business and gives immediate rankings to |
| purchases. This will help you keep track of your | | | | companies and business.Their search result is also |
| spending and shopping.Print all receipts or save them | | | | excellent. That may be one reason why 60% of |
| on your computer in a folder named "receipts".This will | | | | people online (including me) love Yahoo.Also, they have |
| help you locate orders that you placed but were never | | | | the most reliable and the best hosting service in the |
| delivered.The more organized you are the less | | | | world.For these reasons, I strongly recommend you |
| negative online shopping experience you'll have.(3) | | | | use Yahoo to do all your searches.Happy and safe |
| Keep all your important personal information safe.Don't | | | | online shopping. |
| give them to strangers who may call you over the | | | | |