Make Online Shopping More Secure
Millions of people shop from their phones, laptops, and mobile devices. While there is no dearth of online retail sites with products to sell, making sure sites are secure and that your personal and financial information is protected are important steps for any responsible consumer. Those who do a lot of their shopping and purchasing from online retail sites know some good practices that are likely to create a more positive customer experience.
Use trusted, well-established websites
Products of virtually every kind are widely available for sale online, but are the companies offering them reputable and credible? Have they been in business for a while? Do they stand behind their products? Have previous customers had good experiences? Before handing over your personal contact information and financial data for payment, verify that the company in question is trustworthy and that their site is secure. Patronizing online businesses that you’ve used before and shopping only with well-known, established companies greatly reduce opportunities for fraud and scams. Checking customer reviews and asking trusted friends and colleagues about online sites that are less familiar to you will give you extra piece of mind that others have had positive experiences in the past. A little research upfront can make the online shopping experience more secure.
Check security protocols
Many online sites publicize their security protocols and certifications to give shoppers confidence that data exchanged with the site is protected. Companies that lack security protocols or who have a history of data breaches cannot guarantee a secure shopping experience. Again, a little research ahead of time—including reviews from past customers and recommendations from friends and colleagues—can alert you to past security lapses that have led to compromised customer data. Shopping online through a public connection is risky; making sure your connection is secure and password-protected and that your own computer antivirus software is up-to-date are all steps that help reduce the chances of your information being observed or stolen during the transaction.
Read the fine print
It is always advisable to be leery about deals that seem too good to be true. While everyone likes a bargain, be cautious about sites whose prices seem out of line with competitors. Read closely the terms and conditions regarding purchasing and shipping, as well as the return policy, so that there are no hidden fees or surprises later, and that there are no ongoing charges to your credit card that you would not have authorized.
Reconcile your financial accounts
Reconciling financial accounts and tracking expenses is not just for businesses and bookkeepers: even personal banking accounts and spending statements should be compared each month to make sure intended charges match up with actual expenditures. Going over your bank statements, your check registry, your online payment accounts, and your credit card statements every month will help you spot unauthorized charges, errors, and surprise fees in time for you to correct them or alert your creditors.
Checkeeper offers a secure and convenient experience
Checkeeper offers an online service that has been trusted by business owners, bookkeepers, accountants, and individuals for over a decade. Checkeeper is a cloud-based software for online check printing and mailing that meets high industry standards for securing your information and providing a positive online experience for clients.
Checkeeper:
Does not touch your funds or move your money into other accounts
Does not charge hidden fees or surcharges
Uses the same level of data encryption that banks use
Is compliant with HIPAA and SOC II
Stores all transactions in an automated registry that can be searched, printed, or downloaded on demand
Allows you to export a complete check history on demand
Can be accessed 24/7 by authorized users
Offers complete check printing and mailing outsourcing for a hassle-free client experience
Can be canceled anytime with no additional costs or penalties
Has been trusted by over 100,000 users and has accumulated many positive reviews