Be cautious when buying online

You can buy almost anything online these days - but security is far from guaranteed, so it pays to be cautious.

Sure, there may be a shakeout happening in the new economy, but the Internet is not going away. And judging by recent interviews with small business owners, buying online certainly won't either. Whether you shop online regularly or haven't taken the plunge yet, here are the top tips to ensure that you're a savvy online shopper.

Before you enter a credit card number online, make sure the page is secure. When a page is secure, the information you submit from that page will be encrypted to drastically reduce the possibility of a hacker picking up the info as it makes its way through the Internet to the Web site. To check, look for a Web address that starts with "https" instead of the "http" that is used for most pages. You can also look for a padlock symbol along the bottom of your Web browser window.

Before you can actually order, you often need to sign up as a member. Although you may be tempted to use the same password for all your online activities, this is not terribly safe. If a hacker is able to crack your code, they could get into any and all of your accounts. Try a 3-password system, in which you designate one for secure transactions on brand name sites, another for secure transactions on sites that are unfamiliar to you, and the final password for all general sites.

Becoming a member may result in your personal information being shared with other companies. Take the time to learn what a site will do with your personal data by reading its privacy policy. Ideally, you should be able to opt out of having your e-mail address sold to other companies or even opt out from mailings from that site.

When you actually place an order, credit cards offer a better safety net if you end up having problems with your order. With a credit card, you can simply dispute any questionable charges. Since debit cards automatically transfer the funds from your bank account to the vendor, it can be more difficult to get your money back if you are unhappy with your purchase.

To avoid any surprises when checking your bill, make sure you are aware of all costs, including shipping and handling, before you finalize a purchase. Otherwise, you risk getting whacked for more than you might expect.

Finally, it is admittedly all too easy to set up a site that can take orders but not deliver the goods. If you're about to buy from a site you've never heard of, check to see if it has been rated by a site like BizRate (www.bizrate.com) or Gomez Advisors (www.gomez.com). If the site is not rated, it does not mean that it is not reliable; it just means you'll have only your judgment to rely upon when deciding whether to shop there.

So if you want to enjoy the advantages of shopping online but you don't want to get burned in the process, simply follow these few tips and having to swipe your corporate card may become a thing of the past.

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