Online shopping has become a regular part of life for many people, and for good reason. It is convenient, often less expensive, and available at any hour. But not every website that looks like a shop is a legitimate one. A few simple habits, applied consistently, make a significant difference.
Check the Address Bar First ¶
Before entering any payment details, look at the address bar at the top of your browser. A secure website will show 'https://' at the beginning of the address, and most browsers display a small padlock icon. This means the connection between your browser and the website is encrypted. It does not guarantee the shop is legitimate, but a site without this is not safe for payment. SafeNet Protect checks this automatically and shows a clear indicator.
Look for Contact Information and a Physical Address ¶
A legitimate online shop will have a contact page with a real address, a phone number, and an email address. If you cannot find any of these, or if the contact page is blank or broken, that is a reason to pause. You can also search for the shop's name alongside words like 'review' or 'complaint' to see whether other customers have had problems. A few minutes of searching can save a great deal of difficulty later.
Be Cautious with Prices That Seem Unusually Low ¶
A price that is dramatically lower than the same item elsewhere is sometimes a sign that the shop is not what it claims to be. This does not mean every discount is suspicious, but a price that seems too good to be true is worth investigating before you buy. Check whether the shop has genuine customer reviews on an independent platform, and look at the return and refund policy before completing a purchase.
Use a Card with Purchase Protection Where Possible ¶
Many credit cards and some debit cards offer a degree of purchase protection, which means you may be able to dispute a charge if goods do not arrive or are not as described. Check with your card provider about what protection applies to your card. Paying by bank transfer offers no such protection, which is why legitimate shops rarely ask for it as the only payment option.
These habits take only a minute or two and become second nature quickly. If you are ever unsure about a specific website, our support team is happy to take a look with you.