‘Tis the season for safe shopping

While shopping our local main streets is still one of the best ways to get in the holiday spirit and at the same time help spark the local economy, shopping online has also become a very popular way to purchase gifts. Whether during the holiday season or any other time of the year, Internet shoppers can reduce their chances of becoming victims of online predators by following some simple tips.

According to the New York State Consumer Protection Board (NYSCPB), online shoppers should follow these safety guidelines:

• Know the company with whom you are dealing: Anyone can create a web site that looks professional. If you are not familiar with the company, request a catalog or brochure to get a better idea of its merchandise and services. You can also check the reliability of a company with the Better Business Bureau at www.bbb.org;

• Be thorough when using Internet auctions: If a consumer is utilizing an auction web site, such as eBay, he should have complete confidence in a potential seller by checking for feedback before conducting business;

• Maintain a record of your online transaction: Always print a copy of your purchase order and confirmation from the web site. If the company sends you a confirmation via electronic mail, you should retain a copy of that correspondence until all concerns regarding the transaction are satisfied;

• Use a secure website and browser: Make sure that the web site contains a closed lock or unbroken key icon on your screen’s status bar and look for the “http” in the web site address when making your purchase. For your protection, also make sure that your web browser complies with the most current security technology to ensure that your purchase and financial information is scrambled. If a company's web site does not provide these protections, you should consider ordering by telephone;

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• Read the privacy policy of the web site: This will help you determine whether your personal information, such as your e-mail address and other identifying information, will be used or shared with others. Determine what security features are in place so that any personal information cannot be obtained and used fraudulently;

• Protect your identity: Never respond to e-mails from “sellers” or anyone asking for your passwords, Social Security number or other personal information.