Top Tips for Safe CyberShopping

CyberSource Corporation (Nasdaq: CYBS), the company that bills itself as the "Power Behind the Buy Button," recommends the following tips to help make your online shopping experience safe this holiday season:

1. Never give your personal information to an unknown source.

Do not respond to unsolicited e-mails that require you to provide your bank account number, credit card numbers, address or other personal information in order to make a purchase. Report e-mail "spams" to your online or Internet service provider.

2. Shop with trusted, known Web sites. Shop with merchants that you hear good things about. You should always check out unfamiliar companies before doing business with them online. In some cases you can find out more about a company by visiting the Better Business Bureau's Web site (http://www.bbbonline.com).

3. Read the Security/Privacy Statement on any site you plan to shop on. Look for symbols indicating the site you are about to shop uses security technology to protect your credit card numbers. Find out what the merchant's policy is about selling your personal information to others and what they are doing to protect your credit card number on their site. If you don't like what you read, don't buy.
college admission essay
4. Trust your instincts. If you feel uncomfortable with the kind of information you are asked to provide, don't order anything and don't stay on the site.

5. Shop with a credit card that protects you. Check your credit card policy and find out what protection you have. Paying by credit card instead of a debit card or check usually provides more legal protection if a dispute arises.

6. Take your time before you make a buying decision. Don't give in to sales pressure or time restraints - it's your money and your decision.

7. Keep records of everything you order. Print and save receipts or e-mail confirmations from purchases you make. Your records can ensure reimbursement in the case that what your order never arrives.

8. Check the warranty and return policies. Read the fine lines before you click the "buy" button. Make sure that if it doesn't fit, isn't the right color or isn't what you thought it would be, the online merchant will take it back with no questions asked. In addition, check the merchant's liability if something goes wrong with the item.

9. Review your credit card statements carefully. Read your credit cards statements carefully and report unfamiliar line items to your credit card issuer. Some fraudulent purchases can be very small and might go unnoticed.

10. Report suspicious experiences. Report any unusual experiences to The National Fraud Information Center (www.fraud.org or 1-800-876-7060) to ensure that they are investigated.

For more information on credit cards and the security issues surrounding them, check out our sponsor at Npmweb.com