If the thought of braving the malls for your festive season shopping makes you want to skip the holidays in protest, perhaps it’s time to head online to buy your summer wardrobe, choose the perfect gifts, and even shop for the family celebration feast you’re already planning. MasterCard offers these great tips to make sure that your readers online shopping experience is safe, secure, and simple – everything a shopping trip should be this festive season!

 South Africans are more comfortable with shopping online than ever before – the 2014 MasterCard Online Shopping Behaviour Study revealed that 69% of respondents had made at least one purchase online in the last three months, and that 87% of those said that they were very happy with their experience.

 It’s worth remembering, however, that security is just as important when you’re shopping online as it is when you’re visiting a mall. The study also revealed that 90% of respondents cited the availability of secure payment facilities as critical when shopping online. Just as you protect your wallet with your payment cards and personal information when you’re in the shops – you should do the same when you’re shopping online.

 

1.       Know who you’re buying from – Learn as much as you can about the seller before you purchase from them. It’s not difficult to set up a shop on the Web. If you are unfamiliar with the retailer, it is wise to do an online search to check recommendations and feedback from other customers to gauge their reputation. Check the company’s refund and returns policies, which should be available on the company’s website, before you place your order.

2.       Guard your privacy – Do not disclose personal information unless you know who is receiving it, why they need it, and how they’ll use it. For example, rather use your work contact details than your home information as less scrupulous retailers sell their customer information to third parties. This will protect your privacy and your security at home.

3.       Keep your password safe – Most reputable online shops require you to register with them with a username and password before you place an order. When selecting a password, avoid using commonly-known or easily-guessed information such as your birth date, surname or pet’s name, and don’t use the same password that you use for other sites. The best passwords have at least eight characters and include numbers and letters.  Keep your passwords safe and don’t share them – protect them as you would your PIN for your physical payment card.

4.       Keep the records, know the facts – Print out all the information on your record of purchase, including the product description, delivery information, privacy policy, warranties and any confirmation notices that the seller sends you. Alternatively, set up a folder on your computer where you can store all your transaction history. This way, if there is ever a dispute with the merchant or your bank, you have a record of the transaction on hand.

5.       Rise of digital wallets – In the technology age we live in, make use of safe, digital services such as the recently launched MasterPass app from MasterCard in collaboration with Standard Bank. MasterPass enables you to make convenient, simple, fast and secure digital payments. Digital wallets accessible through the MasterPass acceptance network allow you to store all your MasterCard or other branded credit, debit or cheque card information, and shipping and billing address details securely in one place. This gives you the ability to make secure online payments without the repeated hassle of entering these details each time.

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