Online Shopping Safety Checklist

Look at the URL

Real Amazon is amazon.com — never amazon-deals.com or amaz0n.com. Real Macy's is macys.com. Typo-domains catch a lot of seniors. Read the address bar before you type a card number.

Look for the lock icon

Browsers show a small lock or "https" before the address. No lock = the connection is not encrypted. Skip those sites for purchases.

Search the brand on AnnualCreditReport.com or BBB

For unknown brands. Better Business Bureau and Trustpilot reviews tell you fast if a "small business" is actually a dropshipper from overseas.

Compare price across two sites

A $40 Yeti tumbler is fine. A $40 "Yeti" on a no-name site is a knockoff. Real luxury brands rarely discount more than 15-20%.

Check Amazon Review Spotter on third-party sellers

On Amazon especially, a 4.7-star "ZJBYHB" wireless speaker is almost certainly fake reviews.

Use a credit card, not debit

Credit cards have $50 federal liability cap and the bank fights fraud for you. Debit pulls money straight from your account — recovery is slower.

Use a virtual card if your bank offers it

Capital One Eno, Chase Privacy.com card numbers, Citi virtual numbers. Generates a one-time number for online buys. If the merchant gets hacked, your real number is safe.

Skip "store accounts" and store credit cards

Macy's offers 20% off if you sign up for their card. Trap. The interest rates are 25%+ and missing one payment kills your credit.

Save the order confirmation email

Filter for "order confirmation" once a quarter. Cross-check with your card statement. Disputes have a 60-day window — find issues fast.

Never use Zelle, wire, or gift cards to pay

Real online stores accept Visa/Mastercard/Amex/Discover. Anything else (Cash App, Zelle, Bitcoin) means the merchant cannot accept normal payment — almost always a scam.

Save the tracking number

Forward the order email to yourself with "tracking" in the subject so you can find it later.

Use Informed Delivery for USPS

Free email previews of every letter and package. informeddelivery.usps.com.

For pricey items, schedule a signature requirement

On Amazon: "Track Package" → "Sign for delivery". Stops porch pirates and lets you redirect.

If a package never arrives

Amazon: chat support, usually refunds within an hour. Other stores: dispute the charge with your credit card after 14 days of "delivered" with no package.

Open and inspect within the return window

Most US stores offer 14-30 day returns. Amazon is 30 days. Best Buy is 15 days. Apple is 14 days. Open it that week.

Save packaging until satisfied

Returns work much better if you have the original packaging. Store it for the return window before recycling.

Photograph any damage immediately

Phone photos with the timestamp + the item + the box. You will need them if you dispute.

Mark fraudulent charges fast

If you see a charge you did not make, call the back-of-card number that day. Federal law protects you only if you report within 60 days.