How to shop safe online

Consumers increasingly want to know how online businesses will protect their personal data before buying, according to research.

Internet shopping is now extremely popular, and 87% of UK households made online purchases within the past 12 months, according to Statista.

However, with the rise in consumer activity online comes a rise in scams.

Here, Sam Whillance, an expert at online e-commerce platform Deal. Town, reveals what shoppers should be looking out for to ensure a website is safe:

Steer clear of deals that seem too good to be true:

If a website appears to be selling designer clothes or jewellery or electronics for considerably less than the usual retail price, always consider whether this is too good to be true.

Look for a privacy policy:

A privacy policy, normally in a statement format, explains how the business collects, uses, and stores sensitive data from its customers.

Check if the website accepts credit cards:

Credit cards are one of the safest methods for making online transactions. This is because it is easier for credit card issuers to refund money lost to fraud.

Watch out for spelling and grammar mistakes:

Legitimate brands will have the professionalism and accuracy to ensure the text and imagery on their websites are correct.

Look for a phone number and address:

The majority of legitimate retailers will have a contact number and an address visible in either the header or footer of their website. If you aren’t sure whether an online shop is genuine, copy and paste their address and phone number into a Google search engine, to see if their details are verifiable.