"Common Cents:" Safe Online Shopping

Online shopping continues to grow in popularity, as more and more consumers enjoy the convenience of never having to leave home to buy almost anything they want. But paying for something without physically taking it from a store comes with more risk. Trish Powell, from the Better Business Bureau, shares some advice on how to safely shop on the Internet.

Tips for safe online shopping:

         Do your research. Shoppers should always review an online retailer on bbb.org to check on the seller's reputation and record for customer satisfaction.

         Check for secure Internet connections. There are various icons and software programs that indicate that security software is in place, such as "https" instead of "http", a padlock icon will show at the bottom of the screen, SSL encryption.

         Confirm contact information is valid. Look on the site for a street address and phone number. Be wary if the seller's only contact information is a post office box.

         Pay with a credit card. It is best to use a credit card when shopping online, because under federal law the shopper can dispute the charges if he or she doesn't receive the item.

         Review refund and shipping policies. If you can't find them, ask the seller through an e-mail or telephone call to indicate where they are on the site or to provide them to you in writing.

         Keep documentation of your order: After completing the online order process, a shopper will be provided with a confirmation receipt.  BBB recommends printing a copy of the confirmation and any indication of the expected delivery timeframe for future reference

For more information -www.centraltx.bbb.org