Any time you use your credit card number, there is some risk that it will be intercepted. Credit card companies know this, and have established measures against fraud. There are everyday precautions you can take to prevent disaster. We've outlined a few of the most important online shopping tips below. Shop at Secure Sites To prevent third parties from intercepting your credit card or personal information, shop only at secure sites.
Secure sites use encryption to scramble information so that only they can read it.
You'll see a pop-up message in your browser and a locked lock icon will appear at the bottom of the screen. Pay with Plastic Buying with a credit card is the safest way to shop online. If your purchase doesn't live up to claims advertised by the retailer or if goods aren't delivered as promised, you can contest the charges. Some card issuers offer special credit cards that guarantee 100 percent of online purchases. If you pay with a check, you won't have the same protection.