Stephanie Benes, StartSpot Mediaworks, Inc. Checked it twice. If you are one of the 35 million Americans planning to shop online this holiday season, chances are you'll come across a few grinches. 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.
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. If you pay with a check, you won't have the same protection. Verify the Vendor's Reputation Look for the company's physical address and phone number. If something looks suspicious, check the company's reliability with an organization like the Better Business Bureau.