Tips for Being a Savvy E-Consumer at your Apartment in The Villages, FL

These days, shopping on the Internet is a practice that has become both widespread and convenient, with everything sold online from cleaning supplies and clothes to household electronics. While you can acquire nearly anything on the Internet, the anonymous nature of many of these transactions makes it much easier for fraudulent businesses and con-men to trick unsuspecting customers out of their money.

Here are a few simple tips to help you protect yourself and your loved ones from online fraud:

• Do research in advance – Online reviews are a good place to start, but they can often be falsified as well. Another way to ascertain the legitimacy of a business is a search on “WHOIS,” which will allow you to search by domain name and see where and to whom a website is registered.

• Read the fine print – Be sure to read the return policies, dispute procedures, and other transaction-related information of whatever online store you’re using. That way, you’ll be prepared in the event that you need to know this information.

• Look for a secure connection – Nearly all legitimate websites will use a secure transaction page, which can usually be identified by the first part of the website address changing from “http://” to “https://.” You can also verify the site’s legitimacy by checking to see if they use a known and safe transaction processor, like PayPal or VeriSign.

• Be vigilant with your accounts – Watch your bank account(s) closely in the days following your purchase, making sure to contact your bank or credit card company if any unusual extra charges suddenly appear.

Hopefully, by following these tips, you’ll be able to enjoy a productive shopping experience right from your apartment in The Villages, FL. At PepperTree, you can shop online from the computers in our business center or from the comfort of your luxury apartment. Best of all, all of our apartments are spacious enough to accommodate a wide range of online purchases. To learn more about PepperTree Apartment Homes, contact our leasing office today.