Online shopping has become quite common these days with every other individual buying merchandise online with credit and debit card programs. However, when shopping online, many people are unaware of the safety measures that need to be taken in order to prevent identity theft, and other fraud cases.

One of the most common safety measures that people should take while shopping online is to avoid using debit card programs for their transactions. The reason for this is that debit cards lack the safety that can be found in other credit and prepaid card programs. Nevertheless, while online shopping is a convenient means of making purchases, there are a number of precautions that should be taken regardless of your payment methods. These precautionary steps include:

Only Shop at Trusted Sites. Not all websites are equally secure and you need to determine which ones are the most secured ones. Do not visit sites that are sent in spam emails, and only purchase items from authentic sellers that can provide you with the best quality of goods.

2. Never Perform a Credit Card Transaction in Public If you are using free Wi-Fi in a public setting, avoid sharing your credit card information, as the connection is not secure and can be intercepted by third parties.

Use antivirus protection. On personal laptops and desktop computers, always install antivirus software and firewall before you shop online. This is just a precautionary measure to ensure that your credit card details are not accessed by a hacker via your computer’s network.

Avoid Debit Card Programs. As mentioned above, debit cards should be avoided when making purchases online. The reason for this is that if your debit card information is stolen, you will lose all of the money within your account. However, with a credit card, the theft will not cost you your money.

Keep a record of your online transactions. Most online stores provide you with the facility to print your receipts and keep them with you as a record for your transactions. Make sure that you print the receipt and file it away in case of emergencies in the future. Printed receipts can also be used to calculate your expenses and determine if the right amount of money is being charged to you at the end of the month.

Get the convenience of buying everything you need via online stores and get them delivered to your doorstep, but just remember to keep the above given precautions in mind so that your credit card transactions will be performed safely.

Credit and debit card programs have made it very convenient to buy expensive items without making cash payments. So use your credit card safely for all your online shopping sprees!