Pay by credit card
It's usually a good idea to make online purchases by credit card. You will have more recourse if the goods never arrive or are not what you expected, as you may dispute the charges and keep your credit card company from paying if there is a problem.
Along the same lines, you should be aware that there are differences in doing business with companies and doing business with individuals in the eyes of the law. You will have more legal recourse against a company than an individual if things go sour.
One of the most important things you can do to protect yourself when making purchases online is to be sure that you are using a secure browser and the transaction is encrypted. This means your credit card and other sensitive information won't be zipping around the Internet tempting any enterprising young hacker with a packet sniffer to grab it.
To determine if a Web page is being served from a secure server look at it's URL; it should start with "https" rather than "http." You can also look at the security icon at the bottom of your browser's window. In both Navigator and Internet Explorer, a secure Web page will be signified by a locked padlock icon. An unsecure page will have an unlocked padlock icon in Navigator, and no security icon at all in Internet Explorer.
It should probably go without saying, but we'll say it anyway: Keep good records of all online purchases and transactions.
Finally, it is important to review your credit card statements carefully and promptly. This is most likely where a case of online fraud will show up. The sooner you contact your credit card companies about any suspicious or unauthorised charges, the better your chances of keeping the crooks from getting any money.
