Safe Online Shopping Recommendations

 

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.