Shop on secure sites. Only use websites with 'https' in the URL and a green padlock in the browser bar. Double click on the lock to see a digital certificate of the website. Review these certificates on unfamiliar sites. Never enter personal information, especially your Social Security number or passwords for email and bank accounts as part of the buying process with online retailers. Leave suspicious websites immediately. Don’t click on any of the site’s links, run content or download software. Use a credit card. Your debit card is linked to your checking account and if you buy from a fake website, the cash is gone and hard to get back. Consider using a virtual credit card number. These are single-use (also called disposable, secure or virtual) credit card numbers. A single-use credit card number is an alias for your actual credit card number, and is offered by most major credit card issuers. When shopping online, use this number instead of your real account number. Purchases that you make with your temporary number show up on your statement like all of your other transactions.