If you’re a senior who is now more interested in shopping online due to living in an assisted living facility or being less mobile so that you can’t go out and do your shopping like you used to, there are a few things about online shopping that you should be aware of to help you keep yourself and your money safe.
To show you just how this can be done, here are three tips to help seniors with online shopping.
Shop From Brands and Websites You Know
There are so many different websites and brands out there looking to get your online business. And while you might be able to find something obscure that’s offering what you want at a steep discount, you’ll want to be very careful about shopping from websites like this.
In many cases, things that you find when online shopping that appear too good to be true usually are. They could be looking to take your money and send you something that isn’t what you’re expecting. Or they could even use your information for more nefarious purposes. So when you’re going to do online shopping, it’s best to stick to brands and websites that you already know and are familiar with. If you trust them when visiting their store in-person, you should be able to trust them when shopping online, too.
Pay With Credit Cards, Not Debit Cards
When you buy things online, you’ll have to use a digital form of currency to make your purchase, like a card or other online financial account. But to best protect yourself and your money when making online purchases, it’s wise to pay with a credit card rather than using your debit card.
Because your debit card is tied to an actual bank account when your money is housed, it can be much more appealing for thieves to steal this information. Additionally, many credit cards will insure or guarantee purchases made with their credit card if something should wind up going amiss, so this added protection can be helpful as well.
Use Strong, Unique Passwords For Each Website
If you intend to do a lot of online shopping now, you’ll want to set up accounts with the websites that you will do most of your shopping with to help you speed the process along. But when you’re setting up these accounts, make sure that you’re using strong, unique passwords for each website that you log into. This will make it harder for someone to hack into your accounts and start buying this under your name and with your money.
If you’re a senior who’s ready to start doing more online shopping, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you make this transition.
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