Hello bargain hunters!
With the start of bargain month in Belgium, great deals are lurking online. But, amid the discount madness, let's not forget to stay vigilant for online pitfalls too. Discover here five tips to shop safely and enjoy the bargains carefree.
1. Be wary of offers that are too good to be true
If an offer seems too good to be true, it is probably not true. Cybercriminals can use misleading offers to obtain personal information or lure you to fraudulent websites. Check the reliability of the seller and be sceptical of unrealistic discounts.
2. Use safe websites
Make sure you only make purchases on websites with a secure connection. Install the Safeonweb browser extension. This will show you, for every website you visit, whether the owner is validated (green) or not (orange). Websites without a validated owner (orange) are not suitable for leaving your bank details on.
3. Check the reliability of the seller
Before you make a purchase, research the seller. Read reviews, check if contact information is available and see if the website has a valid address and phone number. Be wary of unknown sellers with unrealistic deals.
4. Keep your software up-to-date
Make sure both your operating system and security software are up-to-date. Software updates often contain important security patches that protect you from known threats. This minimises the risk of malware infections while shopping online.
5. Keep your financial data safe
Be careful when sharing your credit card or bank details. Only enter this information on trusted and secure payment pages (see tip 2!). Check your bank statements regularly to spot suspicious transactions quickly.
