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The Daily Insight Hub

How can you protect yourself from Internet fraud when buying online?

Author

Rachel Davis

Updated on February 08, 2026

Ways that consumers can protect themselves from e-commerce fraud include:

  1. Shopping at secure websites.
  2. Doing research on the website before they place the order.
  3. Reading the site’s policies on privacy and security.
  4. Being mindful of cookies.
  5. Never giving out your social security number.

How do I protect myself when buying something online?

7 tips to protect yourself while online shopping

  1. Shop from secure websites only.
  2. Create a unique username and password for each account you have.
  3. Never provide your social security number.
  4. Never click on links or images within a promotional email.
  5. Never use free Wi-Fi at public places when online shopping.

What to do if you buy from a fake website?

Report the fraudulent transaction to the company behind the money transfer app and ask if they can reverse the payment. If you linked the app to a credit card or debit card, report the fraud to your credit card company or bank. Ask if they can reverse the charge.

What do I do if I get scammed online?

If you’ve been victimized by an online retail scam, file a report with the FTC and the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center. The FTC website also has advice on safe online shopping.

How can I protect myself from online fraud?

Change your passwords regularly for better protection, using a combination of letters, numbers and special characters when possible. Change your wireless network default password as well as the default SSID (name used to identify your network). Don’t broadcast your SSID and consider using encryption on your network.

Who is at risk of fraud on the Internet?

Consumers aren’t the only ones at risk of online fraud. From recent data breaches at major retailers to increasing incidents of fraudulent emails, businesses are increasingly at risk of email and online fraud. Many online safety precautions that apply to consumers can also protect businesses.

What to do if you get scammed on the Internet?

A credit card can act a little like a buffer – an extra step between the fraudulent charge and you actually having to pay – and many cards offer some type of purchase protection for situations like this. File a police report. Above all of these, you should also consider filing a police report if you have been scammed while shopping online.

Is it safe to buy things on the Internet?

The Internet has made it simple and seamless to visit an online retail store, browse through its goods by the dozen, add one or two products of your choice to a shopping cart, and click to buy. But with simplicity comes bigger challenges. One of the top issues of online shopping is its security concerns.