davide27
Premium
join:2004-12-06
Burnaby, BC | purchasing online
Hello people, just wondering if any of you purchase anything on the internet? Is fraud very rampant as much as people make it about to be? What, if any, changes do you make to Internet Explorer or Firefox before purchasing? Thanks for your opinions! |
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Keizer
I'M Your Huckleberry
Premium,MVM
join:2003-01-20
| I purchase online, but always call the company to give them my credit card info. Re-search the online store, and always go to re-seller ratings to see how they rate.
»www.resellerratings.com/
Keizer |
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MapleLeaf
Premium
join:2001-09-04
Burnaby, BC
4 edits | reply to davide27
I have no problems shopping and banking on-line, on the contrary, I prefer to do stuff on-line when it is a choice.
The way I see it, there are two main things you should consider when you shop or bank on-line: integrity of your system and reputation of a given retailer or financial institution.
If you've been backdoored, the guilty party has the same access to your locally stored or transmitted data as you do - passwords, credit card numbers, account information etc.
If you happen to fall a victim of so called phishing (lured to a site that looks legit, but in fact is not), you will be submitting your private and sensitive information directly in to the hands of criminals. You can lookup basic introductory information on phishing in »Security »Scam Email: What is Phishing? What do I do about it? .
Now, when you do your transaction with a legitimate business, your data is as much secure, as your business partner's record keeping and auditing practises - in other words, on-line interactions with a retailer or a bank are not that much different from what you do in person.
Use your common sense - if you can see the difference between a scam and honest offer in everyday life, you are not likely to be fooled on-line. Remember that if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Check ratings, references and other people's feedback if any when you shop at eBay.
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Remember, I'm pulling for you - we are all in this together... |
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ironwalker
World Renowned
Premium,MVM
join:2001-08-31
Keansburg, NJ
clubs:
 ·Optimum Online
| reply to davide27
No problems here....but there is fraud.Knowledge on the latest frauds scams and cons is a must.At least as best you can.Read read and read.
I just saw on the tv how ebay scams are getting so bad that the consumer actually cant stop it.Apparantly the second address line which most leave blank becomes the conmans address line as your address gets some garbbled text like, *hxx43ttggxx*,and it has ebay computers sending the pakage to the second address line.
I figured maybe filling in both address lines with same ady would help but if they can change one they can change both.
Its sad.
Just becareful who you shop from,check out there polocy on fraud theft and cons....are you covered or not.
Nothing wrong with asking if anyone ever bought anything from so and so site before actually purchaseing....chances are one of us here has.
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"LIVE FREE OR DIE"www.Theforumz.com ---- www.ownt.com--Fiber Optics is the future of high-speed internet access. Stop by the BBR Fiber Optic |
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darkstar2778
Premium
join:2004-01-20
Florida
clubs:
| reply to MapleLeaf
Great points already posted. I also beleive certain credit cards can issue "one-time use" account numbers for online purchase, protecting you further. Here's a quick example.
Citi Bank
»www.citibank.com/us/cards/tour/c···_van.htm |
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MapleLeaf
Premium
join:2001-09-04
Burnaby, BC
| Agree, "one-time use" account numbers for online purchase are very convinient. This is also great, I use it in my shopping: Verified by VISA
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Remember, I'm pulling for you - we are all in this together... |
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jaykaykay
4 Ever Young
Premium,MVM
join:2000-04-13
Scottsdale, AZ
 ·Speakeasy
| reply to darkstar2778
said by darkstar2778  :Great points already posted. I also beleive certain credit cards can issue "one-time use" account numbers for online purchase, protecting you further. Here's a quick example. Citi Bank » www.citibank.com/us/cards/tour/c···_van.htm Thanks for the link. American Express used to do this but stopped some time ago. I hadn't used any other one since but really liked the ability to use a one time only account. I do have a Citibank so might consider using that one for my on-line purchases. |
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darkstar2778
Premium
join:2004-01-20
Florida
clubs:
| reply to MapleLeaf
I should say as well, altough this may be obvious and is only my opinion, never use your debit card. Should you run into a problem and have used your debit card (rather than a credit card) your CASH is gone. Using a credit card, to me, is safer b/c if I have a problem I'm not out the cash. I can always make a minimum payment until the problem is resolved when using a credit card. |
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jack b
Gone Fishing
Premium,MVM
join:2000-09-08
Cape Cod
clubs:
·Comcast
| reply to davide27
With a little common sense and reasonable caution, you should be able to safely buy many items online.
Your browser should be secured for all online activity, no matter which one you use.
I purchase lots of stuff online, all the time.
Be careful where you shop. Stick with "brand-name" merchants when possible. If a site doesn't have an https payment page I'd shy away from using it.
Use a credit card for payment to minimize your financial liability from fraud.
Be aware when buying from any online auction sites... Check out who you're about to buy from.
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~Help find a cure for cancer~Proud Member Team Discovery |
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boblandy
Premium
join:2002-05-06
| reply to davide27
watch for the padlock at the bottom of your browser window when you go to order or check out. some sites display the padlock when you log in.
if it isn't there, you are not conducting business on a SSL Secured site. i have come across a few such sites.... ones that expect you to do biz without proper security. i've emailed the company about the problem, and then taken my business elsewhere.
also, when done with the order, remember to log out of the site and then it's wise to close the browser window too... at least that's what my online broker site advises. i follow that advice faithfully.
hth
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look out kid they keep it all hid |
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EGeezer
Go Bobcats
Premium
join:2002-08-04
Country!
 ·Callcentric
·RoadRunner Cable
·AT&T CallVantage
| reply to davide27
This is probably the mose comprehensive yet easy-to-read piece of work on the subject.
»ftc.gov/bcp/menu-internet.htm
The following,
»ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/alerts/···alrt.htm ,
»ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/online/payments.htm
and
»ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/alerts/glblalrt.htm
Seem to most directly address your post.
HTH
EG
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N-X-211 ====== N-328KF |
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Daniel
Premium,MVM
join:2000-06-26
Pleasanton, CA
clubs:
1 edit | reply to davide27
Here's a thought for you - it's more safe to use your credit card online than it is to use it in a resturaunt.
In a resturaunt, you have multiple people potentially gaining physical access to your card (to include the verification number on the back) while your card is out of your site. During an online transaction you don't have this issue. What you have to worry about there is what happens in the database afterwards, but given sufficient exposure via shopping and sit-down resturaunts, you'll have more risk with the physical, in-person exposures than you will online via SSL.
...just something to think about.
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cat knowledge | grep understanding |
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BlitzenZeus
Burnt Out Cynic
Premium,MVM
join:2000-01-13
Beaverton, OR | You should be more worried about the people you hand your credit card to in person, or give the information to over the phone. Ever wonder how much you can trust the person on the other side of the phone, or that teenager with acne? |
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ElJay
join:2004-03-17
·Great Works Internet
1 edit | reply to Daniel
I worked in a restaurant and we had boxes of credit card receipts hanging around for months. I agree that it's probably safer to order things online than to use a credit card in a restaurant. My biggest worry about online ordering is not with the transmission of my credit card number over the internet but with the security of the database that my personal information will be stored in at the online merchant's site.
I've been ordering stuff quite regularly over the internet with a credit card for about five years and I haven't come across any problems yet. I try to keep my shopping to sites that I know. If I come across a site that I'm not familiar with but has something I want, I'll check out ResellerRatings or BizRate to read about other peoples' experiences with the merchant. |
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Keizer
I'M Your Huckleberry
Premium,MVM
join:2003-01-20
1 edit | said by ElJay My biggest worry about online ordering is not with the transmission of my credit card number over the internet but with the security of the database that my personal information will be stored in at the online merchant's site.
Some online stores like Newegg, have the option to not have your card number stored on their end. Kind of a hassle though, because you have to call them each time to give them the card number when you order.
Keizer |
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NanDog
The Pup Was Female, I'M Not
Premium
join:2003-12-28
Tacoma, WA
·Rainier Connect fr..
| reply to darkstar2778
said by darkstar2778 :I should say as well, altough this may be obvious and is only my opinion, never use your debit card. Should you run into a problem and have used your debit card (rather than a credit card) your CASH is gone. Using a credit card, to me, is safer b/c if I have a problem I'm not out the cash. I can always make a minimum payment until the problem is resolved when using a credit card. Yeah, I never, ever use my debit/check card for on-line purchases, always a credit card. I believe that in the case of a fraudulent credit card purchase the purchaser is only liable for $50 whereas if it's a debit/check card transaction, your whole account can be cleaned out. Can anyone verify that belief?
And as boblandy said, check for the SSL padlock icon.
"Caveat emptor!" |
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ironwalker
World Renowned
Premium,MVM
join:2001-08-31
Keansburg, NJ
clubs: | reply to davide27
I use my check/debt card online...its visa check card from..fleet...errr....bank of america.I transfer money in it specifically for purchases only,there will never be money just idle there.Im also covered by my bank and visa. |
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BlitzenZeus
Burnt Out Cynic
Premium,MVM
join:2000-01-13
Beaverton, OR | reply to NanDog
I agree, its much harder, and takes much longer to resolve bad charges on debt cards. Its much safer to use a real credit card for these kind of purchases, instead of something directly linked to your checking account. |
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dp
Go Steelers
Premium,MVM
join:2000-12-08
Greensburg, PA
·Verizon Online DSL
| reply to Keizer
said by Keizer : said by ElJay My biggest worry about online ordering is not with the transmission of my credit card number over the internet but with the security of the database that my personal information will be stored in at the online merchant's site.
Some online stores like Newegg, have the option to not have your card number stored on their end. Kind of a hassle though, because you have to call them each time to give them the card number when you order. Keizer I purchase a lot from Newegg and I always use the option to not store my card info. It only takes a few seconds to put the info back in on my next order.
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Write your questions down on the back of a $20 dollar bill and send them to me |
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n1zuk
My wood is stacked
Premium
join:2001-10-24
South Burlington, VT
·Future Nine Corpor..
·ViaTalk
·Comcast
| Another layer of safety is to have one credit card you just use for Internet purchases. Keep a low credit line on this one (say $500-1000) and don't let them increase it on you.
If compromised, you're not looking at thousands of $$$ sitting on a card you need to resolve! Also, it makes it easier to monitor activity.
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There's no place like 127.0.0.1 |
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