We have been asked again and again “
is Online Shopping safe in Pakistan?”. As more and more customers are buying via the internet, the danger of becoming a victim of fraud also increases. The 12 tips in this article can help you avoid disappointment with online shopping.
No more Traffic or Parking “Khuwari”, choosing from the comfort of your couch and finding affordable offers: These are just three of the many reasons why more and more people are shopping over the Internet. The number of online shoppers has increased steadily in recent years. The mobile Internet also seems to have a share in it. In a survey it is assessed that about 51% of individuals, using the internet and smartphones, approach online stores, making 18 to 24% purchases online. This percentage is expected to increase in Pakistan in the coming years.
However, online shoppers in Pakistan are increasingly becoming victims of petty crimes. The attackers have targeted the account details of credit cards, credentials, PINs, and other personal information. The main attacking methods are phishing, man-in-the-middle attacks, and spying on encrypted SSL / TLS connections.
To avoid any nasty surprises when shopping online, you should consider the following tips for secure online shopping;
Look with your eyes open.
First check the provider. Look at the website thoroughly and judge by the impression of the website. Check the Contacts page as there should always be the full company address and the person in charge listed. Also get more information about the site. Certificates and quality seals stand for safe shopping on the net. Detailed information on the terms and conditions can be found on the website of the respective certification organization, which you can usually access by clicking on the seal.
Thoroughly check the description.
Make sure that the goods offered are exactly described and have the receipt of your order confirmed by the dealer in writing. Beware of too many positive reviews! The reviews of the products could be fake.
Http or Https?
Protect yourself by running the entire ordering process over an SSL-secured connection. You can recognize the encryption by symbols such as a padlock in the browser or the "https" in front of the Internet address. If the shop offers no SSL encryption, should not order anything. The SSL certificate must also be valid. If the browser displays an invalid certificate message, avoid the shop.
Do your Research.
Shop with due diligence and compare websites. By comparing you can get the best deal from the best website. Some websites like
CompareBox allow you to compare prices from almost all Pakistani online shopping websites.
Are there any hidden cost?
Pay attention to additional costs such as COD charges and service fees. Information about shipping fees should be clearly stated. Also check if the price includes VAT, service charges and shipping costs. Purchases from foreign countries (China) can receive a significant surcharge through customs duties and taxes.
Payment Methods.
Avoid sharing credit card or account information with unknown stores. The safest method of payment is payment by invoice (Cash On Delivery). Avoid online stores that allow only payment in advance, as once transferred, cash is not easily recoverable. Also with payments by credit card caution is necessary. See if the online retailer offers a secure payment method over an SSL connection. Ask if your card institute will replace the damage caused by non-delivery of the paid goods.
Return Policy?
Does the online store offer any type of return policy, are there any charges on retuning. Will they change the product or refund the price? Some questions you should ask yourself. Avoid offers that sound too good to be true. Get opinions and information about such website and offers from social media and online shopping forums.
Bookmark the good ones
It's also a good idea to bookmark sites you've already bought. You can then head for a proven shop quickly. Do not rely on Google search to find a shop you know. Criminals often use similar addresses with small spelling errors to mislead customers.
Avoid Public Wi-Fi
Do not do your online shopping in public environments, such as cybercafé and public Wi-Fi, but rather in a protected environment from home.
Secure your device (Smartphone, PC)
Use a proven antivirus security solution and keep it up to date. This will protect you from attempts to hack your device.
Precaution is better than cure.
As a precaution, in addition to the order confirmation, print out the completed order form and the product descriptions in order to be able to prove in writing, in case of dispute, what you have ordered for which price. You can also create screenshots of web pages. To do this, press the [Print Screen] key and paste the screenshot into an image editor (Paint) with [Ctrl V].
Privacy Policy, If any
Check the details provided by the provider about the handling of personal data and their forwarding to third parties and whether your consent to the transfer of personal data is already preset. Deactivate the corresponding click box. Otherwise, there is a risk that you will find significantly more spam emails in your mailbox in the future.
0 comments:
Post a Comment