Is it safe to buy online??

[GooseTickler]

to be honest i've been buying online for some years now. however, my friend is reluctant to ever give his card details, i want to convince him that it is safe.

the way i understand it it that giving your details to a highstreet shop is as much a risk as giving it online.

but am i correct? can someone clarify that shopping online is just as safe as shopping in a store.

are websites who ask for c/c details under any legal implications? can they be held accountable for theft the same way a store can?

thanks

[Memphis]

Buying online is FAR safer than handing over your credit card in a high street store. Just make sure the site your using is safe by looking for the authentication mark (The small lock that appears in the bottom right corner of the explorer window).

Online stores are as accountable for purchases as actual stores are.

To be honest, some people are just never going to be comfortable handing over credit card details, and for those without a shred of common sense it's probably best that they don't, however in my opinion with the convinience of online shopping you can't go wrong. As I said just shop at reputable online stores and look for the authentication marks which most online stores will activley point out as a means of reassurance.

[Neo]

Its like walking across the street, you can always get hit by car.

Anyways, A ton of people take part in online ordering, there is always a a chance something will go wrong, but that does not mean that nothing will go wrong if you hand your credit card to that nice looking waiter at the resturant and he goes out back to swipe you card.

[CousinFizz]

Well you wouldn't be handing the card number to someone in a store (where anyone can see it there)... it's far safer in that reguard. I don't see any problems with buying online. I do it often.... (of course if you have to register at a site pick a different user name than you usually use) :)

[Postmaster]

If your really anxious of buying online then check if the site your buying from has a SSL certificate if they have one of these you have better chance on winning the lottery then fraud coming your way... All respected online merchats will have these if they don't link it off there site then ask them if you can view it....

[Where Did I Go?]

Be honnest with him.... Internet buying will NEVER be secure. Buying from a shop will NEVER be secure. Its all about being cautius. I mean millions of people do there banking online. I do. Now doing banking is just as bad if your not careful.

Things to look out for when handing over details are the lil padlock in the bottom right. and in the address bar, instead of "http" you want to see "https"

Why not try like big major site... I dunno, something like Sainsbury's online for example, instead of the lil companies you find in a search from google. After a while you'll soon pickup the signs of a safe site. Like the secure services that companies use...

End of the day tho.... if he don't feel safe.... don't buy online! No regrets!

[NotAHacker]

When you buy in a store how do you think they get approval on your card???:)

[Zac]

I regularly buy online, as long as it is a reputable company it doesn't make much difference, what makes people feel uncomfortable is buying from someone they will likely never see. There is less chance of going to a physical shop one day using your credit card to buy faulty goods and then returning the next day to an empty shop, added to this is the issue that you don't always get to see what you are buying before you pay for it when you buy online, it all comes back to the business you are dealing with and there are heaps of good online shops