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Internet shopping is indeed one of the many innovations that have improved the current stone-and-glasses store hopping system. It is convenient and can be done anywhere, anytime provided you have access to a computer and internet. Online shopping offers a lot of perks, there are discounts and rare finds, too, like in your favorite brick-and-mortar store in the city; but there are also risks. If in non-virtual shopping, being the target of fender benders, pick pockets, and other dangerous crime-doers are issues, theft and fraud are also encountered by people who shop online.

At present, millions of people rely on the internet for their shopping needs. Even with the presence of these risks, people still do internet shopping. Fortunately, there are many one can do to avoid being a victim of fraudulent activities done by criminals lurking on the World Wide Web.

1. Think before you click. Banner ads, pop-ups, and many other advertising strategies dominate most web pages you visit. Though some of the adverts are legitimate, many are just posers. When you click on their ad, these tempting offers can lure you into giving your credit card information, password, or bring you to a website that would install malicious software on your laptop or pc. Beware of clicking links especially those embedded on an email sent by an anonymous sender. If, however, you would need to check out the link, what you can do to protect yourself is to type in the seller's URL manually.

2. Know your dealers well. It's not enough to read what this seller is trying to sell. Do your research on who is selling the product and measure how trustworthy this person is. If you want to know the legitimacy of a certain business or website, what you can do is to find the BBB logo (Beter Business Bureau) or Truste on the website. These seals can guarantee how real the website is but make sure to visit the certifying agency's website too just to make sure the seals the merchant is bannering on their page are authentic. Also, check out online customer reviews regarding the site. There are plenty of forums and review sites which you can check such as Yelp, Eopinions, etc. If they a partner of shopping sites such as Google shopping, BizRate, eBay, Amazon, etc., then it is also a good sign.

3. Read and understand the privacy policy. Most shopping sites will ask you to give them basic information about you such as you name, birthday, address, and contact details. This is to ensure that the company also has something to hold on in case the customer has been found to be a fraud. But before you give anything away, you have to think ahead. Where will the other party use the information? To know their intent for asking certain information, read the privacy policy, which details how they will use those data and what your other options are.

By following these tips, you can now shop online without fearing for your money or identity. Enjoy the experience of internet shopping!