| There are not Christmas queues and the | | | | established, this is a good indicator of a |
| weather is dry fine and warm, making your | | | | reputable store. |
| Christmas shopping a more enjoyable | | | | |
| experience. | | | | When shopping online you inevitably end up at |
| | | | the 'check out'. This is the point where the |
| ? Leave it until Christmas Eve! The shops are | | | | store will ask you for your name, postal |
| desperate by this time and slash they prices | | | | address and credit or debit card details. |
| incredibly. It is a bit of mad dash but all | | | | This is the time when credit card fraud is a |
| the Christmas stress is confined to a single | | | | danger. |
| 24 hours. | | | | |
| | | | To protect yourself look for a padlock icon |
| ? Buy online. Quick and convenient, no | | | | in the status bar at the bottom of the window |
| queuing, no trying to find car parking, no | | | | on the actual 'check out' page, where the |
| terrible weather. Plus many retailers offer | | | | website is asking you to submit your details. |
| discounts for online orders, which means you | | | | This padlock mean that this page of the |
| save money too! | | | | website has a secure connection, so any |
| | | | information that you submit on this page will |
| Many people are worried about security and | | | | not be decipherable to anyone else, it will |
| credit card fraud when buying online. Of | | | | be encrypted. If there is not a padlock, it |
| course this is a worry, nobody wants to be | | | | is not a secure connection despite what the |
| the victim of credit card fraud. However, | | | | actual web page content may say. |
| there are some steps you can take to keep | | | | |
| your online shopping experience as safer | | | | You can still submit your details, However, |
| transaction as possible. | | | | you do significantly increase the risk of |
| | | | becoming a victim of credit card fraud. |
| When buying online, only use reputable | | | | |
| retailers. This maybe a high street retailer | | | | Our advice would be to contact the website |
| who have an online shopping facilities or a | | | | and ask them to provide you with a secure |
| large online store. Maybe a friend has | | | | payment page, or shop elsewhere. |
| recommended a particular website that they | | | | |
| have purchased goods from in the past. Some | | | | However you do your Christmas shopping this |
| online shops state how long they have been | | | | year, Enjoy your experience and keep your |
| trading. If a store has been trading online | | | | card details safe. |
| for a number of years, and is well | | | | |