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Five tips for worry-free online shopping
The pandemic has shaken up our shopping habits.
In 2023, 62% of people aged 65 to 74 made online purchases. For those aged 55 to 64, this figure rises to 73%.
Read on for our tips on making it an enjoyable experience!
1- Do your research
Make sure the retailer is on the up and up. Find their complete contact information. Read their return policies. Make a note of the total purchase amount (price, taxes, delivery charges, and other fees) before checking out.
2- Don’t use public Wi-Fi spots
Make sure you’re on a secure network when you shop online—ideally your home Wi-Fi. Over a public connection, your payment information (e.g., credit card number) could be intercepted.
3- Choose the right payment method
Try to use a credit card issued by a major financial institution that promises to refund fraudulent charges. That way you’ll know you’re protected. If you’re not used to buying online, confine purchases to one card with a lower limit.
You can also go through an intermediary payment service like PayPal. That way you’re only giving your credit card number to one party instead of multiple retailers.
4- Only browse secure sites
It’s obvious, but worth repeating: Secure sites are more secure, so only buy from websites that start with https://. The colon in the web address indicates that data transmission is encrypted, but be sure to still check the domain name. Just look at the URL address to make sure you’re not on a bogus site disguised as a legitimate retailer.
5- Keep a record of your transactions
Print or download all purchase confirmation messages. Check your bank statements regularly. If you see any suspicious or unauthorized charges, contact your financial institution right away.
