Is it safe to buy on-line?

Internet shopping offers many benefits to consumers. These include opportunities to save time and money, greater choice, the convenience of shopping when you like and having goods delivered, and a powerful ability to find and compare information, products and prices.

Internet shopping is at least as safe as shopping in a store or by phone, so there is no need for anyone to miss out on the benefits it can provide.

Body4Real uses high grade 256 bit encryption (most sites only use 128 bit) which is extremely difficult to break. Remember, phone lines use no encryption at all so telephone ordering isn't secure at all. Most shops use a credit card machine connected to a normal telephone line.

A 2005 U.S Federal Regulator report concluded that off-line fraud is far more costly and prevalent than on-line. 72 percent of the thefts of personal information for scams last year was done off-line (from homes, rubbish bins, work desks, post-it notes, etc). Thieves illegally obtained sensitive financial information on-line in just 12 percent of cases!

BBC Watchdog has excellent guidelines on Security & Privacy On-line.

Body4Real will never sell, swap or divulge your details to any other organisation. We are totally committed to safe, secure transactions.

Buying products over the internet is safe as long as you follow the guidelines below:

• Shopping online is safe if you use your common sense and always check the terms and conditions of offers. When you buy on-line from a European retailer, you have even more consumer rights than when you buy in a shop.

• Check spelling of the website name is accurate - ‘typosquatters’ have been known to trick the unwary away from genuine sites. Look for links to third party identity assurance schemes like those offered by TrustUK, Verisign, Thawte, Comodo, etc.

• Ensure the web site provides a street address, e-mail contact details and a non-mobile telephone number. If in doubt, e-mail or phone the merchant before giving them your payment card details to reassure yourself that it is legitimate.

• All payment cards - credit, debit and pre-pay - will protect you in terms of the payment itself, and credit cards also offer you additional protection in the case of a disputed transaction. Make sure that you are fully aware of any payment commitments you are entering into, including whether you are instructing a single payment or a series of payments.

• Make yourself aware of the security features available both on the retailer's website and in your own browser. Only trade with companies that have an encryption certificate and use secure transaction technology (SSL). Further information on secure transactions.

• During checkout, look for a closed padlock symbol at the bottom of the screen and / or the site address changing from http:// to https:// which indicate that the communication between you and the retailer is encrypted and therefore confidential. While you are on a 'secure' page (i.e. when the padlock is visible), you can right-click to view security information about the page. But remember that web site security depends on ALL of the processes the retailer puts in place to protect you.

• Never disclose your credit card’s PIN number (this is not the card number) to anyone, including people claiming to be from your bank or the police, and NEVER send it over the internet.

• Always keep a record of every on-line transaction as proof of order, ideally including the retailer’s terms and conditions, returns policy and contact details. Always print off a copy of the order summary page as well as the order confirmation page, which may only provide the order number with no specific details of goods ordered.

• When you buy goods online from outside the EU you are an importer and liable to pay any Customs Duty and VAT.

• Look for "trustmark" validation. There are a number of organisations offering consumers certain guarantees or "trustmarks" that member merchants' stores are operating responsibly. Sites that register with trustmark organisations need to follow guidelines regarding their customer service. Some examples of trustmark organisations are TrustUK, BT Trustwise, SquareTrade, IMRG Hallmark, ISIS Safe Shops List, TRUSTe. The absence of a 'trustmark', however, does not indicate a lack of trustworthiness.

• If you have a problem, contact the company you ordered from. If they do not give you satisfaction, contact your credit card company. If you are still not happy, contact your local Trading Standards Office and any 'trustmark' organisation the shop is registered with.

• Always check your credit card statement carefully. Raise any discrepancies with the retailer concerned in the first instance, as soon as you can. You have at least 90 days to report any transaction you are not happy with.

We suggest you use Mcafee or Norton anti-virus security software to protect your PC.