Over the years, it has become impossible to imagine a world
in which one cannot buy on the internet. In fact, roughly 85 percent of
consumers across the globe have shopped for items on the web. Around 11 million
Americans will make purchases online until the end of this year. However, there
are many more people interested in purchasing products through electronic
commerce, but they seek to do so in the safest and most satisfactory way
possible.
In an interview , Dee Studler, a forensic accounting specialist from the Studler Doyle global investigation and forensic accounting firm, provided
some recommendations for those who wish to buy with confidence and security
online.
"The first thing we recommend is the preparation of a
list of products that they want to buy and based on this the search
begins," she said.
The Studler Doyle co-founder indicated that, after this
preliminary suggestion, the following advice should be taken into account:
- Verify that the page has a digital security certificate:
observe that in the upper left part of the screen there is a small padlock next
to the text: 'It is safe'. Also, note that the URL address starts at https: //
www ..., in which the letter 's' is important, as it indicates that the website
uses a security certificate.
- Use a secure connection: to enter personal data and
finalize an online purchase, it is important to use a secure and private
internet connection from work or home. The public wi-fi networks, of a shopping
center or a cafe, can be used without problems to search for offers in
different web portals, but not to enter the data or complete the purchase.
- Check that the portal has a virtual complaints book: make
sure that the portal has a complaints book in a visible area of its website.
- Corroborate the available payment methods, costs and
shipping time: in addition, to know what the cost of the product is, you must
know the shipping cost and time in which the product will be received. All
this, before the end of the online purchase process.
- Shipping times and costs vary according to the
geographical locations of the company and the client. Keep in mind that
certified e-commerce presents alternative card payment options (credit or
debit) that should be reviewed before buying.
- Review the exchange and return policies: it is very
important to know whether or not you can make changes or returns of the product
purchased online, explains the forensic accounting expert from Studler Doyle. Before
executing any online purchase, you must be clear under what conditions you can
request changes or returns. Even if it is considered necessary, make the
respective inquiries to the company through any of its communication channels.
