Get Tips And Advice For Safe Online Shopping With Netsafe

Tips for shopping online safely

Online shopping offers great convenience, but ensuring your transactions are secure is essential to avoid dud deals, undelivered products, or leaked credit card details.

With some savvy steps and prudent planning, you can shop online safely and smartly.

Tip 1 - Secure your connection

Use trusted networks:

Always connect to secure Wi-Fi(/online-safety-at-home/secure-your-home-wi-fi) (preferably your personal Wi-Fi, mobile data, or a network you trust) especially when logging into accounts or making payments.

Public Wi-Fi can be risky, as others might see your activity.

Strong passwords and 2FA:

When setting up online accounts create robust passwords and use different passwords for each.
Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)(/online-safety-at-home/securing-devices) where possible for an added layer of security.
Read our advice about how to choose a strong password(/online-safety-at-home/how-to-choose-a-good-password).

Tip 2 - Spend securely

Ensure the website URL starts with ‘https://’ and displays a padlock symbol. This indicates your data is encrypted, which means that if someone was able to access the information you’ve entered, they wouldn’t be able to make any sense of it.

Keep in mind, however, that ‘https://’ doesn’t guarantee the owner of the website is legitimate.

Review refund options before buying. Major companies typically provide this information on their sites. For added protection, inquire with your bank about chargeback options on your credit card.

If you’re purchasing from a New Zealand business or private seller, you’ll need a physical address if you ever need to go to the Disputes Tribunal. If you use services such a PayPal or TradeMe and requesting a refund proves difficult, they have their own disputes process you can follow.

Use a credit card or reputable payment services like PayPal for online purchases. Credit cards offer better protection and the option for chargebacks if something goes wrong, this is where the money paid to the retailer is reversed out of their account and put back into yours.

Consider using disposable credit cards, such as Prezzy cards.

If the disposable credit card details fall into the wrong hands, they’ll only be able to spend what you’ve pre-loaded on the card.

Only save payment details on websites that use trusted third-party payment systems like PayPal, Apple Pay, or Google Wallet to ensure safety.

Regularly check your credit card statements for any fraudulent charges and report suspicious activity to your bank immediately.

Tip 3 - Choose websites you use carefully

Verify the company’s customer support, store location via Google Maps, and contact number. Scam sites often list numbers but don't respond to calls.

If you’re messaging a private seller on social media, assess the seller’s profile, check account age, friend list, and other indicators of authenticity.

Search online for reviews or scams associated with the website. Input the website name followed by “scam” or “review” to see customer feedback.

Ensure the website’s URL matches the products being sold. A mismatched URL can signal a scam as scammers will claim a domain from a legitimate company that, for example, has closed.

Use tools like whois.domaintools.com(https://whois.domaintools.com/) or dnc.org.nz(https://dnc.org.nz/) to find out who owns the domain, their contact details, and the website’s duration of operation.

Be cautious of new or privatized domains.

closeup of shipping summary, online sunglass website on laptop in background

What to do if something goes wrong

Here are some steps you can take if you suspect you've come across a fake shopping page or online scam.

Follow up on your order: Most genuine sellers will respond quickly to queries, a lack of response could indicate trouble.
Contact your bank: Discuss refund options and financial protections with your bank. Apply for a chargeback through your bank if needed, most banks have a 60 day limit from the time of purchase for you to lodge a request. If using a third-party service like PayPal, go through their dispute resolution process first.
Report the seller: If you have purchased something from a fake .nz online store and never received the goods, report the website by email to [email protected](mailto:[email protected]). For social media sellers, report their page and profile to the platform.
Apply to the disputes tribunal: For transactions with New Zealand-based sellers, consider applying to the Disputes Tribunal(http://www.justice.govt.nz/tribunals/disputes-tribunal), keeping in mind you need the seller’s physical address.
Secure your information: If you suspect you’ve given personal details to a scam site, seek advice from Netsafe or contact ID Care(https://www.idcare.org/) for further support.
Report to Netsafe: If you’ve fallen victim to a scam, or suspect an online shopping page is fake, you can report to Netsafe, we can provide advice on what to do next and how to stay safe in future.