How to shop online safely
Shop online safely by buying from stores you can verify, paying with a credit card rather than a debit card or bank transfer, and typing store addresses yourself instead of following ads or texts. Be wary of prices far below everywhere else, sites that are only weeks old, and sellers who want payment by gift card, wire or payment app. Keep receipts until the item arrives and works.
About 10 minutes to learnTake care: injury or damage if careless
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How to do it
- Type the store's address yourself or use its official app rather than clicking an ad.
- Search the store's name with the words scam or reviews, and check how long the site has existed.
- Pay with a credit card, which has stronger dispute rights than a debit card.
- Refuse any seller who wants a gift card, wire transfer or payment app for goods.
- Check the return policy and the contact details before you pay.
- Save the order confirmation and screenshots of the listing.
- Dispute the charge with your card issuer if the item never arrives or is not as described.
Stop and call a professional if
- A charge you do not recognize appears, or goods never arrive: call your card issuer and ask for a dispute or chargeback.
- You paid a fake store by bank transfer or gift card: call your bank or the gift card company at once and report it to the federal fraud reporting site.
Common mistakes
- Following a social media ad to a store you have never heard of.
- Paying a marketplace seller outside the platform to save a fee.
- Using a debit card, which draws from your bank account straight away.
Quick self-check
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Teach this to someone
A one-page sheet for showing a friend, a roommate or a kid: what to say, what to show, and one question to check it landed.
Teach: How to shop online safely
What to say
Shop online safely by buying from stores you can verify, paying with a credit card rather than a debit card or bank transfer, and typing store addresses yourself instead of following ads or texts. Be wary of prices far below everywhere else, sites that are only weeks old, and sellers who want payment by gift card, wire or payment app. Keep receipts until the item arrives and works.
What to show, in order
- Type the store's address yourself or use its official app rather than clicking an ad.
- Search the store's name with the words scam or reviews, and check how long the site has existed.
- Pay with a credit card, which has stronger dispute rights than a debit card.
- Refuse any seller who wants a gift card, wire transfer or payment app for goods.
- Check the return policy and the contact details before you pay.
- Save the order confirmation and screenshots of the listing.
- Dispute the charge with your card issuer if the item never arrives or is not as described.
When to stop and call a professional
- A charge you do not recognize appears, or goods never arrive: call your card issuer and ask for a dispute or chargeback.
- You paid a fake store by bank transfer or gift card: call your bank or the gift card company at once and report it to the federal fraud reporting site.
The check question
Ask: Which payment gives you the strongest dispute rights?
Related skills
- How to spot a phishing email or text
- How to spot phone, text and invoice scams
- How to use public wireless networks safely
- Every skill in Tech and Digital Safety
Sources
- Federal consumer guidance on phishing and online fraud, 2026. Checked September 28, 2026.
Last reviewed . First published .