8 Tips For Shopping Safely Online

The US Postal Service expects to deliver 800 million packages between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. With so much money changing hands over the holidays, credit card fraud can run rampant.

Levo Credit Union has put together eight tips for shopping safely online.

Business Information

Get to know the merchant from whom you're considering buying. Does it have a listed physical address? Is a phone number listed on the site for customer service queries? The more upfront an online seller is, the more likely they are to be legitimate.

Official Policies

Does the website feature a clearly linked privacy policy? Does it outline a clear return policy in its FAQs or help section? These are items typically in place for secure, non-fraudulent online retailers.

Trust Marks

47% of shoppers look for trust marks when shopping on lesser-known websites, according to McAfee. Many e-commerce websites make use of trust marks to signal to their customers that they’ve been independently verified as a trusted seller. Look for marks such as Better Business Bureau, Symantec, or TRUSTe in the site’s footer.

Good Grammar and Spelling

Check the site you’re planning to buy from for spelling errors and obvious typos. Suspicious websites are more prone to these.

Credible Reviews

One effective way to verify the legitimacy of an online retailer is to review its customer satisfaction ratings. Look at popular retail review sites—check for reviews that aren’t almost or completely identical or very recent or in a similar time period. This may signify fake reviews.

Dedicated Credit Card

Using a dedicated credit card for online purchases is safer than using a debit card because it doesn't directly draw money from your checking account, so your essential funds remain protected in the event of fraud. Credit cards generally offer strong protections for unauthorized transactions and typically provide an easier dispute process compared to debit cards, which can help limit the impact on your finances while an issue is being resolved.

Don't Save Payment Information

Convenience comes at a security cost. Opting not to store your card information means your data isn't at risk if the retailer is hacked. Enter your payment info manually each time or use a secure digital wallet solution instead.

Enable Account Alerts & Monitor Transactions

Enable account alerts through your Levo mobile app to quickly detect suspicious activity. Reviewing your statements weekly – especially during peak shopping seasons – helps you spot unauthorized charges early.

For more smart credit card shopping tips and ways to spot credit card fraud, see our blog on the topic: