Your Online Shopping Cart: Friend or Foe?

Over the years, my schedule has become pretty hectic. Balancing schoolwork, a social life, and a personal life can be quite challenging. By the time I’m finished with my classes, my part time job, and my homework, it’s already 10:30PM. Sometimes, I just think that there aren’t enough hours in the day to complete all of my tasks. Let’s face it – you are probably feeling the same way.

As students always on the go, it’s safe to say that one of our favorite hobbies is online shopping. What fulltime student has time to stop by the mall?It can be very tempting to purchase that adorable shift dress, which has been marked down 40%. If the dress comes with free shipping, it may even seem like God is giving you a sign to buy it! 

Although we can buy everything and anything on the Internet, it is very important to be educated about safe online shopping. The last thing you want as a college student is tobecome a victim of identity theft because it can hurt your chances of getting loans and applying for credit cards in the future. Here are some safety tips to take into consideration before you complete your order!

1. Make sure the website has SSL, which stands for secure sockets layer. You can easily see if the site has SSL by checking the URL, and seeing if it starts with HTTPS:// (most start with HTTP://). An icon with a locked padlock can also appear in the status bar or at the bottom of the Web browser.
2. Never giveout your birth date and/or social security number. Try to give out as little information as possible.
3. Do not purchase anything on public WiFi! Never assume that a public hot spot is secure because nothing is 100% secure. Your best bet is to shop online at home with your own private WiFi.
4. Keep records of everything you buy and check your electronic statements regularly. Keep track of shipping and handling fees, important dates, andalways saveyour receipt.
5. Never use your debit card when shopping online because the Fair Credit Billing Act protects a credit card, not debit card. If someone uses your credit card without permission, your liability is limited to the first $50 in charges.
6. Do you still feel uneasy? Try PayPal! This eBay company takes out money directly from your account, so merchants and companies never see your information. This great resource protects all of your personal information.

All in all, the next time you’re thinking about purchasing something during your study break, take all of these helpful tips into consideration to protect yourself!