Don t send confidential, financial, or personal information on your e-mail system. Shopping in Cyberspace Ordering merchandise from the Internet is the trend of the future. You can prevent problems before they occur by Doing business with companies you know and trust. If you haven t heard of the company before, research it or ask for a paper catalog before you decide to order electronically. Check with your state consumer protection agency on whether the company is licensed or registered.
Fraudulent companies can appear and disappear very quickly in cyberspace.
Understanding the offer. Look carefully at the products or services the company is offering. Be sure you know what is being sold, the quality being specified, the total price, the delivery date, the return and cancellation policy, and all the terms of any guarantee. Using a secure browser that will encrypt or scramble purchase information. If there is no encryption software, consider calling the company s 800 number, faxing your order, or paying with a check.