1.  Shop from a secure PC 

- If possible, avoid using the family PC that your children use to chat with their buddies and play online games. Those machines, especially if they're a Microsoft Windows computer, are often already infected with spyware. An infected system will undermine all of the other precautions you might take to avoid online fraud.   Before start shopping online, make sure your system is running with up-to-date antivirus software, and that you're using a firewall to block potential intruders. Just as important, be sure that your computer has the latest Microsoft software security updates installed.

2. Sites that you trust

- Avoid search-engine shopping. For the safest online shopping experience, it's best to stick with merchants you know and trust. Most importantly, make sure you have read and understand the merchant's shipping and return policies before making any purchases. Be sure to print a copy of each receipt or confirmation email you receive. Keep all of your receipts in a folder and filed away in a safe place. Never buy anything advertised via unsolicited email. Such offers are almost always a scam.

3. Shop with credit card

-  Most online merchants accept both credit and debit cards. Under federal law, credit card issuers can only hold customers liable for the first $50 of fraudulent transactions, and most issuers will ignore even that amount. Experts say credit cards still present less potential for annoy when dealing with your financial institution should unauthorized charges show up later on a monthly statement. 

4. Consider Alternative Payment Methods

- For the truly fraud-wary online shopping, there are still plenty of alternatives to entering your account number at multiple Web Sites. Many financial institution card issuers offer customers the ability to generate unique, "virtual" or "one-time use" account numbers that are good for single transaction or a handful of specified transactions only and cannot be reused.

5. Get a handle on Spam

- If you worry that giving away your email adress at multiple online merchants might wind up cluttering your inbox with more junk mail, consider creating a new adress for each new Web Site that requires you to enter one as part of the registration process. This allows you take action if a merchant you're doing business with sells or rents your email adress to marketers.

Other Online Shopping Tips

Here's a video of protectiong ourselves from shopping online. Enjoy!