Shopping for goods and services has been an adventure for centuries. In olden days people would need to go to general stores or open markets to purchase or trade for the supplies and food that they needed. Over time large stores started to provide consumers with the convenience of shopping in one location. However, with the advances in technology, now consumers can shop online 24/7 for any product they may need. However, with conveniences, consumers need to be certain that their online shopping experience is safe and secure.

Consumers need to use caution and a little common sense when conducting online shopping transactions. Here are some tips on how to protect yourself online:

1. Know Who You Are Dealing With. Today you can find just about everything online being sold by everyone from major retailers to individuals selling items. Most of the time you are better off with doing transactions with larger sellers as opposed to individuals. This way you have a better idea who you are dealing with.
2. Buyer Beware. If you are buying something online, you need to make sure you know what you are buying. Make sure you have a complete description of what you are buying and make sure that what you receive is the what you were buying.
3. Find Out All The Costs. When doing an online transaction make sure before you complete the deal, you know what all the costs are. And if they add shipping and handling charges, you know how much this will be.
4. Look For A Refund Policy. Look to see what the merchants refund policy is. A reputable merchant will have the policy posted for everyone to see. Make sure you have the option to ask for a refund if you wish to cancel the transaction.
5. Secure Transactions. When conducting a transaction online make sure that you are conducting the transaction on a secure web server. There are two ways to determine if the web site is a secure location: the URL will have an address starting with https or you will see a padlock on the screen. Both indicate that it is a secure location.
6. Purchase Payment. When conducting an online transaction, it is best to use a credit card for the transaction. Using a credit card will give you a certain amount of protections in the event of a fraudulent transaction.

If you follow those steps you should be safe when conducting online transactions. To help stay safe, here are a few other resources and tips:

1. Facts on Online Shopping
2. Safe Shopping Information
3. Better Business Bureau Online Shopping Tips
4. Online Shopping and E-Payment Safety
5. Online Auctions: Bidders Be Wary
6. Seven Practices For Safer Computing
7. Protecting Consumers While Shopping
8. Holiday Shopping Safety Tips
9. Information on Shopping Online
10. Online Safety Information
11. Tips For Safe Online Shopping
12. Online Shopping Safety
13. Shopping Safely Online
14. Online Shopping Safety Advice
15. Tips of Online Shopping Safety
16. Staying Safe Online
17. Microsoft Online Shopping Safety Tips
18. Online Shopping Safety Video