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Christmas is approaching and everyone’s up for shopping cards, gifts and whatever they can for themselves and their near and dear ones.

You may shop at different stores and supermarkets and also check out for websites like eBay and Freecycle. While you shop online, here’s a list of 10 precautions you should take in order to ensure that your shopping transaction is safe and secure.

1. To start off with, check out online shopping sites by taking referrals from friends and relatives.
2. Check if the site has a reliability/security sign or the like. For instance, find out if the site has the Better Business Bureau logo on it.

3. Use an internet specific credit card for the purchase.
4. Avoid using a debit card for online shopping.
5. Keep record copies of your transaction with the online seller.
6. Do not throw away mails you exchange regarding the purchase.
7. Keep a record of the product details, warranties, and the delivery details.
8. Maintain copies and keep a watch on your monthly credit card and bank statements.
9. Make sure that your machine is secure with updated anti-virus protections.
10. If you feel there’s something wrong in the transaction, dispute it with the seller.

Online shopping provides you with a plethora of choices no doubt – there are attractive deals to lure customers especially since everyone’s busy shopping for Christmas. But it should be safe and secured thereby ensuring that you don’t lose your money or no one else comes to know of your transaction details.