Is online shopping safe

AnswerIt depends on who you buy from and what your buying habits are. Never buy from any of the spam e-mail solicitations since that seems to be a primary source of internet fraud. E-Bay and PayPal are Excellent options to help you keep from being ripped off by internet fraud. AnswerBuying on-line can be safe, but make sure you have a decent anti-virus program and spyware-removal program that are both updated. Dealing with normal brick and mortar stores, like Walmart and Target, with online access is considered safe. Dealing with private sellers can be different. Even when you buy on a reputable site like Ebay, it may be difficult (or at least very frustrating) to receive a refund/replacement on a defective product. The VAST majority of sellers are honest, but there are a few bad Apples. Look for sellers with a high positive rating and large number of transactions.

ANSWER

It depends on the precautions you take.

1) Confirming the site is properly secured using "HTTPS:" within the URL

2) Confirm a third-party certificate validation partner such as Norton Secured, Verisign, Thawte, etc. is used

3) Verify if the store meets the PCI compliant (Payment Card Industry) standard, which ensures that companies that process, store or transmit credit card information maintain a secure environment.

4) Search and read reviews about the site

5) Confirm the site has a good BBB rating

Taking the above steps should increase your confidence level when shopping online.