The Wayback Machine - https://web.archive.org/all/20060118103225/http://www.canadaretail.ca:80/Shoppingtips.html
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Safe
Shopping Tips
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CANADIAN
Shopping... |
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Avoiding
Online Fraud and Scams
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The
Internet offers cybershoppers the convenience of shopping 24 hours a
day, seven days a week from the comfort of their home and office computers
and can be just as safe as brick and mortar stores and Mail order houses.
However, consumers must learn how to identify online fraud so that they
don’t leave themselves vulnerable to the same scams that are common to both
online and offline shopping. Take the time to learn how to protect yourself
from cyberspace crooks who can perpetuate scams quickly, leaving without
a trace. Visit our "Free" section where
you will find tips on getting rid of junk mail and protecting your privacy
while you are browsing the Internet. Also visit our Weblinks
section for links to protecting your privacy online. |
The
following are some tips for shopping safely on the Internet
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- Stop Hackers
or unwanted
predators from getting a hold of any of your PC's files or operating
system with products such as Mcafee
- Personal Firewall or Symantec's
Norton Internet Security which offer advanced security technology
especially if you are using an always on connection such as Cable or
DSL. Also the Linksys Cable/DSL
Routers give you the option of connecting multiple PC's to the Internet
with an Internet Firewall built-in feature. Also visit our
Resources section at the bottom of this page for more information
on protecting your children and family from unwanted visitors and Web
Sites you don't want your children to happen upon.
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- Consider downloading
a secure 128-bit browser, which will give you the best encryption
technology or scramble purchase information. Also by downloading the
latest 128-bit browser version of Netscape
or Microsoft
Internet Explorer, you will always have the latest most secure encryption
technology available.
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- Don’t be hurried
into a sale by Websites looking for an immediate response or claims
of limited availability. Take your time and research a company before
giving your credit card information. If you wish to purchase an item
and are afraid to put your credit card number online consider calling
the company and giving them your credit card number over the phone.
You can also print the product page you want and mail the company a
cheque as another alternative to using credit cards.
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- Never
give your personal or credit card information by email to
any unknown source in order to purchase something or sign up for a service.
You have no way of knowing who that person is once they have your personal
information
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- Shop with trusted,
well known websites. If you are interested in buying from a merchant
you have never bought from before, check out the company’s physical
location (Address and telephone number) so that you can check them out.
It’s easier to reach a company who has a toll-free phone number and
responds quickly to email enquiries. Beware of companies who don’t respond
quickly to enquiries.
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Look
for a privacy statement on any site you plan to shop from. Look
for symbols indicating the site uses security technology which scrambles
and encrypts your credit card number.For extra peace of mind, shop
at sites displaying the VeriSign
logo, or the Better Business Bureau
logo, these sites are audited regularly to prove they are maintaining
security measures properly. Visa, Mastercard, and American Express
all have zero liability policies, which means that if any unauthorized
transaction appears on your statement, you don't have to pay. Make
sure you know what the merchant is doing with your personal information,
and that they are not selling it to other companies, and also what
they are doing to protect your credit card information. You may be
liable to pay $50 if any cyber hacker steals your credit card information
and uses it for his or her own purchases. Some websites will guarantee
to pay you the $50 if your credit card information is stolen.
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- Never supply
personal information like your social insurance number or personal
banking information. This kind of information is not required to make
a purchase.
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- Keep records
of all transactions you have made in the event that something you
have ordered does not arrive, or is the wrong item. Ask the merchant
for a tracking number at time of purchase, so you can track your package
yourself.
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- Check out a
merchants warranty and returns policies. Read the fine print
before you click on the “buy” button. Make sure if the merchandise doesn’t
fit, is the wrong colour, or isn’t what you thought it would be, the
online merchant will take it back with no questions asked. Some merchants
charge a restocking fee that can cost you as much as 20% of
the sale and some won't take returns back at all. Also check the
merchants liability if something goes wrong with the item.Your credit
card can afford you some protection: if a product is fraudulently advertised,
damaged or defunct, you may be able to challenge the charge with your
credit card company. Also find out if you can return an item to one
of their physical stores or do you have to ship it back to the merchant
and will the merchant pay the shipping or will you have to pay additional
costs to return an item.
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- Federal law
requires that a merchant will ship the product within 30 days. Companies
must alert you if their are delays in shipping, and get your approval
or let you cancel your order, or receive a refund.
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- Look for online
seals to make sure you are dealing with a reputable company. The
seal verifies that a company is committed to it’s privacy policies.
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- When you decide
to make a purchase online, look for a "padlock"
in the bottom of your screen which will show that the padlock is locked
meaning your credit card information is safe to use, and also look for
an “S” in https:// in front of the URL in the top of your
screen, which is an additional sign you are in a secure page for sending
secure credit card information.
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- Look for a Toll
Free Phone Number so that you can contact a company with
any questions you may have before ordering, or if you do not wish to
use your credit card online you can use it over the phone.
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- Consider Using
an E-Wallet. Services such as Microsoft Passport, BMO MasterCard
Wallet and the Royal Bank Royal Pass, let you electronically carry your
ID and billing information from site to site, sparing you the trouble
or reinputting your name, address and credit card every time you make
an Internet purchase. All your information is kept on a secure server
so it's safe. Note: Not every retail site is compatible with e-wallets,
so you may not always be able to use it.
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- If you have
had a strange or suspicious experience on a website, like an individual
prompting you to send them your credit card information, or asking you
to respond to a get rich quick scheme, you can report it to the Web
Sites listed below: Also Note: If you have not yet experienced
buying something on the Internet, you probably will at some point take
the plunge and open yourself up to a whole new experience. Good luck
and safe shopping...and don't forget to return to CanadaRetail.ca
for your Canadian Shopping Portal of Choice...!
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