Customer Service 2.0 is the blog for GoGoods, an online specialty shopping site that prides itself on delivering the best goods to the public both quickly and accurately. On this page, we will go beyond traditional customer service by sharing news and information about the online shopping industry that will make the public a smarter, more aware shopper.
It’s the back-to-school season, and many families are turning to online shopping to save time and money. As a provider of office and school supplies, we feel it is partially our responsibility to ensure that families are not being taken advantage of. We have already given you some advice in the past on staying safe online, but here are a few tips specifically for this time of year:
Beware of Advertising Emails
During months when people are more likely to shop online, such as back-to-school or the holidays, many retailers send out waves of marketing emails, coupons, and special offers. Cybercriminals take advantage of the flood of advertising by slipping in a few more false offers. These often appear as ‘phishing’ scams, in which criminals attempt to fool consumers into giving out credit card or online shopping account information. You can avoid these easily by simply ignoring emails and doing all of your online shopping from company websites. Keep an eye out for trusted certification. You should also keep in mind that a retailer will never email you looking for account information.
Create Multiple Passwords
It seems convenient to use the same password for everything, and in fact, most people do. Think about it this way:
It is not very difficult to hack into an account on a small, unsecured website – something like a web forum or chat room, for example. If your account for that web forum is compromised, it may not be a big deal. However, if you are re-using the same password for everything, the hacker now has the key for your favorite shopping sites, your email, and your bank account. It’s likely that he can find your account name on all of those sites by using the personal information you provided in your account for that first little chat room.
By using different log-in credentials for every website you visit, or at least the sensitive ones, you can avoid that scenario. Most modern browsers will save passwords for thousands of accounts, so there is no longer a need to worry about forgetting them.
Do Not Store Credit Information Online
Many reputable online vendors, such as GoGoods.com, do not require you to store credit card information online to make a purchase. If you have the option, make a one-time purchase, or even order without making an account. This guarantees that your sensitive information is not sitting on a server somewhere, waiting to be stolen.
Do Not Allow Children to Shop Unattended
Your child may want to pick out their own supplies, clothing, or backpack, and they should have that option. However, you want to make sure that you are monitoring what is going on while they are on the computer. Not only to make sure they aren’t spending hundreds of dollars on designer pens, but also to make sure they aren’t falling for untrustworthy links or email scams. Very young children may be adept at using the computer, but they may lack the common-sense warnings that prevent you from exploring too-good-to-be-true offers.
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GoGoods is an online specialty shopping site with the smartest, most interactive customers in the marketplace. In addition to the website, you can visit pages on Facebook and Twitter to gain insight into deals, as well as visit the Customer Service 2.0 blog, which will provide exclusive company and industry related content.
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