21 Things for Students

Welcome agent. Today we are going to learn how to buy equipment. Buying and selling on the Internet have changed the way we live. No longer are we required to go to the store to find our favorite products – we can now perform a web search to locate, compare, and buy goods and services. This has changed things not only for the consumer, but also for the business owner.

You are going to investigate e-Commerce from a consumer standpoint, and see how to shop online, avoid Internet fraud, and locate reseller ratings.

What is e-commerce?

E-commerce refers to conducting business via the Internet, includes online banking, trading stocks, and purchasing goods and services. E-commerce has become a fact of modern life, with millions of people now shopping regularly from the convenience of their computers. Many retailers have websites where you can purchase products online, including flowers, pet food, and tonight's dinner.

Source: http://www.learnthenet.org/index.php

e-Commerce as a Consumer

Everyone is shopping online. How can you protect yourself as a consumer? Check out this video on "How to shop online" from Learnthenet.org. You willlearn how to buy online, and how to avoid scams.

Key points to remember when shopping online:

• Shop with businesses you know and trust
• Shop from secure sites that contain "https://" in the web address
• Use a credit card from a reputable company; one that provides protection from scams, theft, and illegal use
• Never send your credit card number or social security number by email
• Watch out for "too good to be true" deals
• Look out for excessive shipping or hidden costs
• Print or save a copy of your order for your records

Protect yourself from identify theft, scams and rip-offs by being e-smart! If you are a victim, report your complaint to the Internet Crime Complaint Center or the Federal Trade Commission

Check out the reseller ratings of any potential seller BEFORE you buy to make sure they are reputable, honest and trustworthy!

Consider how you might protect yourself from scams, hoaxes, and cyber-thieves. Visit the Digital Citizenship and Search Strategies "things" to review other resources about protecting yourself on the Internet.