Paying online

A lot of people are weary of paying for items online. They of course can't entirely be blamed, whenever something goes wrong, it get shouted about from the hill tops.

People are right to be weary! One major thing to do is to use paypal as a way of payment. This is especially useful if you don't have a credit card. Not to mention the added security that paypal affords you. This also means that the person you are purchasing from DOES NOT get your card or bank details. Very important in this day and age of identity theft. Many people don't like paypal, but you wont get protection like it. Although there are other online payment companies beginning, which give you the same protection, they just don't have the same brand that paypal has built up.

Failing that pay with a credit card. Your credit card provider will always protect the purchases you have made so if you have any difficulties they will protect you. When you see the security protection the vendor provides open up a new browser and check it. Just type the name of the data protector into your search engine and see what people have to say about it. It will take a few minutes of your time.

I do not advise you to pay via transfer. Once your money is gone it's gone! Your bank will provide you no protection (in most cases), as you agreed to the transfer, it was YOU who made the transaction and on your own head be it.

The only way I not going to TELL you not to pay someone you don't know or trust is via Western Union or moneygram. It's unfortunate that Western Union gets picked on a lot by scammers, as it's a great way for parents to get a cash infusion to their children or whatever. Western Union do their best to stop people from being scammed, but there are not in on these scams so it's not their fault.

Always try and use your common sense, and if your instinct tells you something, listen to it!