I myself am a frequent onliner purchaser. I have a few golden rules, however, to protect my name and my credit.
1. If this is an online store or vendor, check first to see if there is feedback from other customers. It’s tedious but worth reading what others have to say. I’ve saved myself countless times from purchasing a software or product simply by reading more negative feedback than positive.
2. Do your homework before commiting to a purchase. There are great websites like http://www.scambusters.org/ that update you on the latest scams via e-mail and the net that will help keep you informed before you commit. Another fabulous resource is http://www.fraud.org/ that provides you with information on virtually every type of fraud including internet purchases.
3. Going back to an online purchase, if you are going to purchase something using a credit card for example make sure there is a lock or lock/key symbol somewhere on the checkout page, this will verify that they are a certified vendor.
Here are some tips on wether or not a website is indeed secure (bulleted information taken from: http://info.ssl.com/Article.aspx?id=10068)
- High Visibility - Online merchants want you to see these site seals. They want you to know they have made every effort to make their site a safe shopping experience. Therefore, the site seal is usually located where you, the customer, can easily see it.
- Difficult to Duplicate - The site seals are designed to be difficult for thieves and scammers to duplicate. Many times the site seal will have a date and time stamp on it.
- Verification Functionality - The site seal should have some functionality whether by clicking on the seal or by hovering your mouse over the seal. The functionality should display detailed information about the web site you are visiting.
These site seals should not necessarily be trusted on their own, but should serve as a reminder to "investigate further"…
- Check for that "https" in the prefix of the web page address.
- Click on that "lock icon" in the status bar of your browser.
Here is some great advice from the "Consumer Report: The 10 Most Important Things You Can Do Now to Avoid Getting Scammed" by Jim and Audri Landford when it comes to making purchases through a vendor:
When you’re shopping online, always check out the company. Ask for references and check them carefully. A reputable company will be pleased to provide you with lots of references. Only do business with companies that offer a strong guarantee and/or warranty. Ask the company what will happen if you want to return the product or service. Reputable companies offer strong guarantees and stand behind their products, especially online.
As for the specific purchase you mentioned, it is hard to tell if this person is legit or not. I can tell you as a small business owner, I have made transactions like this on numerous occassions just because of the nature of my work. As a graphic designer and retoucher, many times I will create the art first and then bill the client later simply because I don’t have the time right then and there to send an invoice first.
This particular individual could very well be one of those smile and a handshake kind of proprietor’s who feels it is more important to provide you with the product first and then worry about payment. HOWEVER….be leary if they ask for anything more than your shipping address and name. If they want credit card information, date of birth or anything more personal, I say walk away. I hope this helps. Remember the old adage that if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it’s not a horse! :-)
