Online shopping is a convenient and easy way of shopping that can save you alot of time and from tiresome shopping. This is why more and more people are turning to this alternative rather than facing the crowds in the stores. More than that, you can find everything you want by scoring the best deals, research the items and read the reviews. Numerous people are adopting the online commerce and the percentage continues to grow each year. But the dark side to the story is that the increase in online shopping has enabled the fraudulent groups to take advantage of the consumers by either sidetracking them by bad sales or by fake websites and scams. Smart shopping requires a great amount of product knowledge, planning and patience why is why we bring you the essential Do’s and Don’ts of online shopping. So if you have been the victim of online shopping frauds and Internet scams or even if you are new to the game, this article will guide you alot.

• Do your Research:

Although online shopping can be of big help but it definitely can raise some questions and confusions about the product and it’s specifications. When shopping online do read the description about the product. Don’t just buy right away from the first site you see, do a little digging by also searching it on the other sites to see the price difference and other details for more informed purchase.

• Don’t trust Social Networking Sites Deals:

These types of deals are a scam and they can trap you into clicking them. You never know if it’s a legitimate or fraudulent website. Shopping from such sites can cost you a great loss.

• Do Read Reviews:

Try building a habit of reading customer reviews as it can save you from purchasing stuff that may be appealing to eye but is not worth a money. Most of the reviews are based on the honest feedback that can help you look at the product from the public’s eye and then decide whether the product is worth buying or not.

• Don’t be a victim of gift scams:

If you are new to online shopping and do not have any experience about how it works, here is a “DON’T” for you. You might receive an email that claims you to provide your credit card or banking information to receive a gift. Do not fall for this. An authentic site or a retailer would never ask for this sort of information.

• Do check Return Policy:

Before buying online, check the return policy of the site you are buying from. Every site have their own return policy. Check the policy of site before any purchase so that if any item gets delivered wrong, damaged/broken or faulty you can return the item and the charges are on them.

• Don’t pay in advance:

No matter how much you want to buy an item, do not pay in advance to any site or seller unless you know it’s an authentic site. There is no way you can get back your money back if the site is imposter.

• Do download an Anti-Phishing Toolbar:

If you are planning to shop online for your convenience, you should invest in an Anti-Phishing toolbar. This will help you identify fraudulent websites.

• Don’t provide excess information:

The most you would be asked to provide is your name, phone number, address and credit card number. Never give your debit card information, social security number or bank routing number online. If any site asks for such information, chances are they are likely to be fraudulent.

• Do use coupons/savings:

Online shopping can be a time saver as well as money saver so to be a smart shopper, don’t forget this tip. Don’t just fill up your cart and proceed to check out. Take a time out to search for discount, promotional or coupon code first for the savings. You can make use of Google for this purpose or you can follow the social media accounts of your favourite sites as they often announce their discount codes and special deals on their channels. Sign up to their subscription or newsletter emails and this way they can send you promotional discount codes to your email. You can have 10-20% off on your total amount by using the code while checking out. This will help you do smart shopping.

• Don’t fall for scam:

Do not go for any unfamiliar online store you see. If any website deal or offer sounds too good to be true, it likely is a scam. Don’t go for sites with unclear information and return policy. You may get emails from the scam sites, that may seem to be from a legitimate retailer, to provide your credit card information etc, do not give out any information. Visit the site directly instead of clicking email links or else it is preferable to always google the site to see the reviews and discussions about it on any chat forum or review sites.