Verifying Retailer Legitimacy
Check retailer website addresses carefully for subtle misspellings of trusted brand names. Scam sites copy legitimate retailer designs precisely while using near-identical URLs. Look for HTTPS padlock in the browser address bar and verify the exact domain name matches the official retailer address.
Payment Method Protection
Credit cards provide superior purchase protection versus debit cards through chargeback rights covering disputed transactions. PayPal Purchase Protection covers eligible purchases for 180 days. Virtual card numbers create single-merchant or limited-use card numbers preventing card details from being compromised at retailer databases.
Secure Password Management
Using unique passwords for every online shopping account prevents credential stuffing attacks where leaked passwords from one site are tested on others. Password managers generate and store complex unique passwords making unique-per-site passwords practical without memorisation requirements.