PayPal Offers Safe Shopping Tips For Cyber Monday
Just in time for "Cyber Monday", PayPal spokesperson Claudia Lombana shared some online safety and shopping tips with KCAL 9's viewers.
Top 5 Online Safety Tips
Use a safe password - Use a strong password which includes a combination of upper and lowercase letters and numbers. The more complex your password, the safer you are. And use an updated Internet browser that blocks fraudulent websites.
Buy securely - Check for stores that allow you to use secure methods of payment such as PayPal, so you don't have to share personal information and you can stay protected from I.D. theft. And remember, if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. Read the small print. Not only is PayPal a highly secure form of conducting online payments, it is used by vendors for most any product you can think of and has additional incentives at check-out such as cash back, free shipping, and promotional codes. You can check out a list of vendors who offer PayPal deals at PayPal Shopping.
Use common sense. If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. Read the small print.
Protect your computer: use an updated Internet browser that blocks fraudulent websites.
Beware of links in e-mail: Be wary of clicking on links in e-mail, even if the e-mail looks like it's from your bank, the IRS, or a long lost relative. Make sure you know the sender before clicking on a link sent in an email.
Top 5 Online Shopping Tips
There's no need to wait until Black Friday or Cyber Monday. Since the passing of Halloween, many retailers have already launched their holiday sales. According to the NRF (National Retail Federation), 40% of Americans have already started their holiday shopping. Many of those people will shop online and if you're one of them, then you'll want to follow these top 5 online shopping tips.
List and Budget - List the people you plan to buy for, the type of gifts you plan to buy, and how much you plan to spend. The more organized you are before you start your shopping, the more efficient you'll be in making purchases.
Compare Online - Comparison shop online before you buy; even if something is on sale, often times you can find it for an even lower price by doing some online research. Many retailers are already offering great holiday deals in the weeks before Thanksgiving. You can check out a list of vendors who offer PayPal deals at PayPal Shopping.
Avoid Late Gifts – one of the most dreaded pitfalls. Check online with retailers to see when you need to have a gift ship in order to have it arrive by the holiday. If you're sending it yourself, allow 10-14 days for postal service to deliver.
Shipping costs – You may get a great deal on an item but if shipping charges are through the roof then what's the point? Before you click confirm on your purchase, make sure to check the shipping charges. Many PayPal merchants are offering free shipping this holiday season.
Return Policies – Make sure you know a merchant's return policy before you buy; many prohibit returns or only allow exchanges. Keep your online receipts and your debit/credit card statements in case you need to make a return on an online purchase.
