Before you submit any private information to a website shopping cart, be sure to look in the "address bar" of the browser you are using. For example, your current address bar should read something like...(http://thejigsawclub.com/protect/etc...).
When you process an order with a company using a "secure" check out system , the address bar will change to a "secure" URL address. You will know when your page is "secure" because the URL address adds an "s" to the "http", thus becoming "https" (https://thejigsawclub.com/protect/etc...).
This change indicates that the page has become "secure", and that all information submitted will be transferred safely. This scrambled information can only be read by the bank processing your order (they decode the information once they receive it). At 'The Jigsaw Club', this process takes place when you click on any "add to cart" button. A few website shopping carts 'change' when you are checking out and hitting a "submit" button. Either way, look for this change when you are placing orders online.
In addition, you should see a small yellow/gold "padlock" icon appear, usually at the bottom of your browser (
) . 2) Find out how long a website has been online.
If a website has been online for at least 180 days, it's a good bet that they would be a 'legitimate' business, and it should be safe to order from them. Most of the fraudulent websites will establish an online presence just before a major event or holiday like Christmas or The Super Bowl, or immediately after a major event like the tsunami disaster or a well publicized personal tragedy. If a website is committing fraudulent acts, chances are it would eventually be shut down by the servers that host the site, or by the banks that service the account. Obviously, the longer a website has been online, the better. It would be difficult to stay online once dozens of complaints have reached the proper authorities.
To avoid becoming one of those first "dozens" of victims, take the time to check the websites 'online' history.
You can check the history of a websites online presence by entering their URL address in the World Wide Web "Internet Archives". If you were to check The Jigsaw Club (http://thejigsawclub.com) you would see we've been in the archives since July 23,2001 (although we've been in business since 1999, we've had a website since 2001). You can see that we have an established online presence.
Visit The "Internet Archive" to look up any website starting date (afterwards, close the window to return to The Jigsaw Club).
Just type in the website address and click the "take me back" button.
Make sure to use The "WaybackMachine" search box.
Be careful....researching website history is fun, and can be addictive
3) No company ever needs your Social Security number to process an order, never reveal it to a website.
Only give out your social security number to your Bank, Employer, and necessary Government Departments