1. Don't use a debit card for online shopping. If there is a problem, a debit card could give phishers or hackers access to your entire checking and/or savings account. Plus, most debit cards don't have the same protections that credit cards offer.
2. Make sure all of your security software is up-to-date before you do your online shopping. That includes anti-virus software, anti-spyware software, and firewalls.
3. Use a separate email account for your online shopping. You can set up a free email account on Google's Gmail or Yahoo, among others.
4. Check the privacy policy of any website you plan to purchase from. Make sure they have a privacy policy, that your data stay private to the merchant, and that they don't sell or rent your information to third parties.
5. Never enter personal information into a pop-up screen. Unauthorized pop-up screens can be created by identity thieves and the screen may be completely unrelated to the websites you are visiting. Legitimate companies don't ask you to enter personal or financial information on pop-up screens.
6. Never respond to emails asking you to "confirm" recent transactions after you shop. These are phishing scams that coincidentally are sent around the time you shop. For more on phishing, click here.
7. Trust your instincts. If you feel something isn't right, investigate more or buy from another vendor.
Information from scambusters.org.
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