As we saw when the world began rushing to panic buy toilet paper, one of the main ways people are responding to the COVID-19 global pandemic is by changing their shopping habits. But what started with stores struggling to stock their shelves is now shifting to online orders and deliveries.

As more people take advantage of online shopping, it is increasingly important to keep the internet a safe place for transactions. Here are a few tips to help:

1.   Examine a site for trust indicators

First, check to see if the website you’re using is legitimate. For many years, internet users were told to “look for the lock” to know that a website was secure. But in 2019, several browsers changed how they display authorized sites. Consumers can look beyond the lock by clicking on the padlock to view the certificate information and organization details. 

The following questions to determine whether a site is trustworthy:

– Do they have terms and conditions or a return policy listed?

– Do they have a secure site seal?

Are there grammar and spelling mistakes?

– Do they have reviews?

– Do they have a social media following?

– And, most importantly, is there contact information listed in case you need to get in touch with the company about your order?

2.   Protect your data

Don’t give out more information than you need to. 

You should also choose strong passwords that have a complex set of lowercase and uppercase numbers, letters and symbols. Don’t use personal information as your password and avoid using the same password on multiple accounts. 

Avoid suspicious forms of payment, like sending money to a random PayPal account, or mailing cash or a check. Check your statements regularly and make sure you don’t see any fraudulent charges.

3.   Update your software

Make sure that your browser is up to date, and do not install suspicious software or plugins.

4.   Treat deals in your email with suspicion

Advertisement emails are often malicious and pretending to be legitimate businesses. For example, during this pandemic you might see emails with deals for buying masks or sanitization. Generally, it is better to copy the website URL, inspect it then paste it into a browser instead of clicking on links in your inbox.

5.   Beware of deals that seem too good to be true

If something seems too good to be true, it probably is. The most powerful defense against online shopping scams is common sense. Also, beware of subscriptions to ads, which can be dangerous because they can spam your mailbox with malicious emails.

6.   Be ready to act if your order doesn’t arrive

Save the receipt and order confirmation information. If your order doesn’t arrive, hopefully you checked the site for contact information so you can call the merchant. If you can’t reach anyone, and you suspect foul play, report the company to police.