October 30, 2026
Safe Online Shopping: A 6-Step Safety Checklist
Online shopping is convenient, but it is also where a lot of fraud starts. As a licensed security officer, I check who I am dealing with before I pay, and I keep a record of everything. Use this checklist before you buy.
1. Vet the seller first
Search the store name along with "review," "complaint," or "scam." That is the Federal Trade Commission's own advice, and it works. A real store leaves a trail. Compare the total cost, not just the headline price.
2. Check the checkout page
Before you type in card details, make sure the address starts with "https." The "s" means your information is encrypted before it is sent. Encryption alone does not prove a site is legitimate, so pair this with vetting the seller.
3. Pay by credit card when you can
Paying by credit card gives you protections other methods may not: if you are charged twice or billed for something you never received, the law gives you the right to dispute the charge and temporarily withhold payment while it is investigated. Never buy from a seller who insists on gift cards, wire transfers, a payment app, or cryptocurrency — scammers prefer those because the money is hard to recover.
4. Do not trust the link — go to the store yourself
Be skeptical of links in emails, texts, and social media ads, even ones that look like they come from a retailer you know. Type the store's address into your browser yourself. And if a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is.
5. Know the shipping rule and keep your records
The law requires sellers to ship items within 30 days of the sale when they have not promised a different shipping time. Check the return policy before you buy. Save the company name and website, what you ordered, the date and price, the promised shipping date, and every message with the seller. If something goes wrong, try the seller first; if that fails, report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
6. Lock the account behind the purchase
Most shopping fraud starts with a compromised account. Use a strong, unique password for every shopping account and turn on two-factor authentication wherever it is offered. A physical security key adds a layer for key accounts — see this security key on Amazon.
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
The takeaway
Safe online shopping is a short routine: vet the seller, check the checkout, pay by credit card, go to the store yourself, and keep your records. Do them every time, and most scams never get past the front door. Once your order is on its way, protect the delivery too — see my Package Theft Checklist: Protect Every Delivery.
Sources: FTC, Online Shopping — Security Tips; Navy Federal, How to Spot and Avoid Online Shopping Scams.
Follow Toukir Islam for more checklists, or contact me via toukirislam.com. — Toukir Islam, licensed Florida security professional