How to Shop Safely Online
Holiday shopping has officially kicked off, or should we say "logged on?" This year, 22 percent more home Internet users did some online shopping the day after Thanksgiving compared to the daily average for preceding weekdays, according to internet.com. If you take advantage of the convenience of buying online, keep these tips in mind to protect yourself from becoming a victim of fraud.

1) Use a secure browser. This is the software you use to navigate the Internet. Your browser should comply with industry security standards, such as Secure Sockets Layer (SSL). This standard encrypts or scrambles the purchase information you send over the Internet, ensuring the security of your transaction. Look for the following three signs that a site uses SSL before entering personal info such as your credit card number.

• Make sure the URL in the address bar changes from "http://" to "https://" to indicate the site is secure.
• Internet Explorer users should watch for a pop-up message stating: "You are about to view pages over a secure connection." If you use Netscape as your browser, look for a notice that reads: "You have requested a secure document."
• Lastly, look for a small lock icon in the bottom corner of your screen such as the one pictured at right. You can double-click on the lock to learn about the site's encryption capabilities.

2) Pay by credit or charge card. If you pay by credit or charge card online, your transaction will be protected by the Fair Credit Billing Act. Under this law, consumers have the right to dispute charges under certain circumstances and temporarily withhold payment while the creditor is investigating them. In the case of unauthorized use of a consumer's credit or charge card, consumers are generally held liable only for the first $50 in charges. Plus, some cards may provide additional warranty or purchase protection benefits.

3) Keep your personal information private. Don't disclose personal information—such as your address, telephone number, Social Security number, or e-mail address—unless you know who's collecting the information, why they're collecting it, and how they'll use it.

4) Make choices. Many companies give you a choice on their Web site as to whether and how your personal information is used. These companies allow you to decline—or "opt-out" of—having personal information, such as your e-mail address, used or shared with other companies. Look for this as part of the company's privacy policy.

Adapted from the Federal Consumer Information Center's "Shop Safely Online"

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