To begin with always be familiar with the retailers you are shopping with. Some stores in the offline world also sell merchandise online. However there may be other stores online that do not have an establishment in the city or town where you live. Still other stores sell their wares via the internet and that is it.
Before you offer up your credit card number to an online retailer find out what you can about them. Do a web search to see if there have been any complaints lodged against them. It is also smart to check with the Better Business Bureau online. When in doubt do not provide your Oklahoma credit card number to any website. It is always better to be safe than sorry!
Be a conscientious shopper. Keep in mind that while there are plenty of legitimate businesses operation over the internet there are also plenty of scam artists who are getting cleverer all of the time!
If you have more than one credit card then choose only one to use when you make purchases online. Designate this as your online shopping credit card. If you use only one credit card for shopping in this manner then your transactions are much easier to track and to follow if you suspect you have been a victim of fraud.
When ordering online do not stay at the website any longer than need be once you have provided your Oklahoma credit card number. The same can be said if you bank online or if you pay your credit card bill online. The longer you remain at secure sites with your personal information on the screen the easier it is for con artists, thieves and hackers to gain access to your information.
In the same way, do not save your credit card number or any other private information on your desktop or laptop. This is particularly a problem with laptops which are often a target for thieves. This is an open invitation to unsavory individuals to steal you blind! Don’t let it happen to you!