So, what security is there for buyers purchasing online? What should I look for in the first place?

If you visit the site of large and well known online store, you don’t expect to be deceived; there is no reason for them to try. Large online retailers have multimillion pound turnovers and it would be completely pointless to engage in this nonsense. Their owners have long recognized that it is possible to earn much more leading an honest business on the Internet rather than trying to cheat customers. When visiting a store you should make sure that you are actually on the page you want and not a phishing site. This will clearly be stated in the address bar of your browser.

So, the, first rule - make sure you type the addresses of the site without any errors! Watch for the authenticity of the site!

But what if the site is not very well known? Are all small sites owned and created by scammers to deceive people? A rhetorical question and the answer is obvious - of course not. Every online store has to begin somewhere. Lots of online stores started off small and are now major retailers in the online market. Sometimes it’s on small sites where very attractive offers and prices can be found. Eventually a small site must "push" and highlight themselves in the eye of the masses.

But how do you assess the reliability of a website of a small online store? Here are some recommendations.

Always visit the information pages such as “About us”, “Contact us” etc. In most normal companies this section will contain the registration information of the company, full address and telephone number. If you're going to purchases from a site, but are not sure, try to find out what the company's highest priorities are. Don’t be lazy; write a letter to an online store asking in depth questions. And best of all - call the store and ask a few questions about a particular product.

The second rule states - read and check the "About Us" page.

Suppose you have read the "About us" section. Information is available such as phone numbers, a mailing address and names of store personnel that will be responding to your enquiries. Is this enough to make a purchase? Of course not. Now look at the site carefully. Does it look sound? Is there a lot of material on the site? After all, if an online store is constantly trading, and not created in one week, then it should look solid. If the site is legitimate and is selling the latest models of mobile phones for example, it should at least have the simplest functions, such as a customer shopping cart for your selections.

Here it should be noted that even if the site seems "respectful" it might still not be worth purchasing from it. When you purchase from a site being clumsy is not recommended.

Our third rule - - the site should be solid, i.e. have a minimum visual impressiveness and quality.

Suppose you’ve navigated through the site and passed through the filters. It would seem that it's time to complete your purchase. But don’t hurry. Now is a good time to check out the feedback on this site! "Google" the site and everything associated with it! Try to find negative feedback. Use the search engine with a variety of phrases, not just the name of the site. This can really help you. It is important to note that any operating company should not only have positive but negative feedback also. A moderate amount of negative feedback should not scare you, but rather reassure you. This is typical for a brand new online store.

Rule number four - look for feedback on the website.

Now it's finally time to draw a line and reach a verdict. If the "study" of the site has passed all stages of testing safely then you can make your purchase. However, if you (or your friends) have never purchased from this site before, make sure you are satisfied with the website. As a last precaution, try buying something cheaper. It makes sense to spend less to test the store before spending a serious amount of money on the site for the first time!