Thanks to the convenience of shopping from your own home or office, more consumers turn to online shopping everyday. Likewise, more retailers are starting to offer their services online. When you use your debit or credit cards to shop online, we recommend you the following advices to protect your identity and your accounts:

• Shop only with companies you know are trustworthy, remember you will share with them your name, card number, address, and phone number.
• Before providing your credit or debit card online, make sure your connection is safe. On most navigators there is a special icon, like a key or a lock, indicating a safe website. Retailers provide you with information on their website security system.
• Print all information regarding your online transaction, and keep it in case you need to confirm any information in the future.
• Email is not a safe mean of communication. To protect your account numbers and avoid any possible card fraud, never email your financial information.
• Inquire about every detail of your purchase before confirming it, including delivery date, warranties, canceling policy, and how to contact the company if you have questions.
• Treat online purchases the same way you would treat telephone purchases.
• If an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is, and you’d better avoid it.
• Don’t type in your card number unless you had initiated the online transaction.
• Never provide your PIN or password, and never use your PIN as your password.