Since the birth of online shopping in Nigeria, the number of people who prefer to buy online from retail stores and marketplaces, just from the comfort of their home couches or their offices have steadily increased. People with constant connection to the internet find it very hard nowadays to go to a physical market to shop when they can actually buy it online and have it delivered at a far lesser cost than taking all that stress and going to a physical market.
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| Shopping online is catching on fast; but there are pitfalls to consider to be safe |
Shopping Online In Nigeria? Safety Tips You Must Consider
1). Use Well Known Websites
It is always advisable to start with a well know website instead of going through a search engine to look for what you want to purchase. These search results can be rigged to steer you astray and into preying hands. If you do go through a search engine, be mindful of what links you click on as it can have the same name but a totally different ending to it, for instance, .net or .com.ng rather than .com. Also, they can include certain prefixes and suffixes such as the, online etc. We are all aware that most of the retail stores available today have an online presence but be watchful that you are actually not given out your details to a clone site or phishing site that is just there to swindle you of your money.2). Check for the Lock/Seal
Don’t ever buy anything off an online site using your card information if the website does not have SSL (secure sockets layer) encryption installed. You would know if the website has an SSL seal on it because the URL for the website will start with HTTPS:// (instead of the usual HTTP://). An image of a padlock will also appear, usually right next to the URL in the address bar, in the status bar or at the bottom of the browser but this still depends on your browser. Please see image below. |
| Check for the lock/seal sign AND also the https |
3). Sensitive Information
Do not tell all. No online store needs your bank account details or your pin code. However, if these fraudsters get them, combined with your card details, they can do a lot of damage. The more they know, the easier it is to steal your money. If you are asked for your details over mail, do NOT ever ever send it.4). Do regular Checks on your Statements
Don’t usually wait till the month to end for your bill or statement to come, do regularly check online your bank account, credit card or debit card electronic statements. Make sure you do not see any unusual transaction or fraudulent charges. If you do see anything wrong, pick up the phone immediately and get it sorted out.5). Keep Your PC Protected and Updated
Another thing you need to make sure of is your PC security software. There are endless utilities dedicated to protecting your PC protected from malicious attacks. Most times these fraudsters don’t sit around waiting for you to give them all your data, sometime they give you a little push to get you going. You need to protect your PC with regular updates of your anti-virus software. Also be mindful of public WIFIs you make use of, keep your transactions to a minimum when making use of public internet connections that you are not certain of.You are always required to apply common sense when doing dealings online in Nigeria. If anything seems suspicious, then do not continue with any transaction. Remember, all that glitters isn’t gold, always have that at the back of your mind when you see sales that seem too good. Stay safe. You can shop online on Kaymu.com.ng for great deals but be sure to be careful as well.
IA, interesting tips you have here. I actually knew them b4 but I appreciate the organization on a single page; thats whats interesting. Well done, dude! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, my good old friend.
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ReplyDeleteHello Jodi, thanks for the reminder. Cheers!
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