While there can be some risks to shopping online in general, and there are things you need to look out for, shopping in your Power Mall is completely safe! Only recognized stores that pass tough criteria are allowed to be part of our Mall.
One of those criterion is that their purchase process be completely safe, done on a secure server with encryption processes in place to protect your information. While I can assure you every one of our merchants do this, here’s what you need to look for to make sure:
Industry has developed technology that can scramble sensitive information, such as your credit card number, so that it can be read only by the merchant you are dealing with and your credit card issuer. This ensures that your payment information cannot be read by anyone else or changed along the way. There are several ways to determine if you have that protection when you are sending payment information on the web.
- Look for the picture of the unbroken key or closed lock in your browser window. Either one indicates that the security is operative. A broken key or any open lock indicates it is not.
- Look to see if the web address on the page that asks for your credit card information begins with "https:" instead of "http."
- Some web sites use the words "Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)" or a pop up box that says you are entering a secure area.
There are a few more things you should be aware of:
Look around the website for a "Contact Us" page. If they list a phone number and address or P.O. Box, you can feel more secure as you have another means of contacting them should your purchase never arrive. It is a good idea to call the telephone number listed to make sure that it is a legitimate business. If so, you should be good to go. Also look around for online tracking of your order. Most larger, respectable companies will track your shipment from the warehouse to your front door...and you can log in and see where your shipment is 24 hours a day.
Next, see if the online store has a privacy policy. Legitimate websites will always have a privacy policy, usually found at the very bottom of the page or in the Help or Customer Support section of their site. If you have the time, you can read the policy to see how they will treat your personal information.
You will find that every MPM merchant meets these criteria. You can shop with confidence that you and your financial details are SAFE!