₦airaland Forum

Topic: Ways to Stay Safe When Shopping Online.

Buying items on the internet allows consumers to directly buy goods or services from the website of the seller. This can be done using a range of different computers and devices, including desktop computers, laptops, tablet computers, and smartphones.

Online shopping has eliminated the stressful process the buyer goes through to physically search for products to purchase, and with the aid of internet and technology, the buyer can simply browse the internet for products they are interested in and make payment to the website of the seller with a credit of debit card, or through a bank transfer.

However, shopping online comes with its risks, and below are a few guidelines on how you can stay safe when shopping online.

1.) Shop from Reputable Companies: When you want to buy products online, it is advised you buy from companies you already know and trust. That being said, new companies are born every day. So before you go through with your purchase, confirm that the company takes security seriously. Make sure the website url begins with “https” rather than “http”. The extra “s” indicates an added level of security and demonstrates that communications between the website and your browser are encrypted. If the website isn’t “https” secure, don’t provide your credit card information.

2.) Don't buy items on the internet using Public Wi-Fi: Even when shopping online with major companies that are sure to use “https,” never make purchases on a public Wi-Fi connection. These networks are risky for a few reasons. First, it’s hard to be sure that other people are not scanning the network’s activity and collecting users’ personal or financial information. Second, even on a seemingly trustworthy public Wi-Fi network such as a cafe or hotel connection, it’s possible that the network is actually being run by a malicious entity that is hiding their real identity by naming their network after popular restaurant or store nearby. The best thing to do is to have it at the back of your mind that public Wi-Fi is insecure. Never enter payment information, bank account details, or anything else you wouldn’t want in the hands of a stranger.

3.) Credit or Debit? : When shopping online, always use your credit card over a debit card if possible. In the unfortunate event your information is stolen, most credit cards provide two important benefits: first, many limit the amount of money for which you are responsible. Second, unlike debit cards, they don’t directly link to your financial accounts. Another great solution is to use payment processors such as escrow agents many of which offer specific benefits and protections for the consumer.

4.) Always remember not to Save Your Information: Regardless of who you are buying from on the internet, never ask a website to save your personal information. Although it’s tempting and incredibly convenient, it’s ultimately not worth the risk. Take the time to enter your payment details with every transaction. Data breaches happen at companies every day, and if the company you are shopping with has one, you could lose personal information. Spend an extra minute or two to type out your payment details, this will minimize the risk of your information being stolen, and it go a step further to guarantee your safety.

5.) Ensure that the website or market place is insured by an escrow agent like Atarapay: This is very important because it guarantees the customer gets their money back if there is a defect in the product purchased or there is a breach of agreement in the terms of the transaction.

Visit https://atarapay.com to know more about how escrow protects customers that shops on the internet.

What is Escrow?

An escrow is a bond, deed, or financial agreement where a third party holds and regulates payment of funds for the buyer and seller. The money is held in trust and is only released to the seller (service provider) when all the terms of agreement/transaction has been met.
Escrow helps in making transactions more secure because the payment is kept in an escrow account. This ensures that the seller does not have access to the money until they have fulfilled the terms of the agreement, which will be overseen by the escrow company.

Escrow is suitable for a number of businesses and transactions which includes:
A transaction where large amount money is involved and a certain number of obligations need to be fulfilled before a payment is released. For example, the purchase of a land or house, where the person selling the land is supposed to provide a receipt, certificate of occupancy, and some other relevant documents. Making such a purchase through an escrow company makes the transaction more secure.

Purchase of a vehicle: By buying a vehicle through escrow, it reduces the risk of buying a vehicle that is not in a very good condition because the buyer would have specified in the terms of agreement with the seller that the car must be in a very good condition before the seller can receive the money.

Online shopping and transactions: When you shop from a website or a social media page that sell goods and different product on the internet, there is always a high risk of not getting exactly what you ordered for. Shopping online from a website or social media page that is escrow insured eliminates this risk and ensures that you get exactly what you shopped for on the internet.

Benefits of Escrow:
Escrow ensures that all buyers and sellers are protected equally and their disputes dealt with the utmost concern.
Escrow verifies the funds sent by the buyer and keeps them in safe custody for the seller.
The seller ships the merchandise only after the buyer has made complete payment to the buyer`s escrow account.
Escrow helps you track your merchandise to make sure that it is delivered in time according to the conditions mentioned in the agreement.
The seller does not receive the money until the buyer accepts the merchandise and has the opportunity to fully inspect it.

AtaraPay is an online escrow service promoted by TrustPay Technologies Limited. We are the first company to create online escrow supported by technology to allow user accept or reject items purchased at point of delivery.

Our solution protects buyers’ funds but goes the extra step to specifically protect merchants from a logistics perspective. In essence, they guarantee yourest of mind and you can be assured that you will get your money back if your merchant fails to deliver on his promises.

To learn more about escrow and the benefits of escrow, visit [url] https://www.atarapay.com/