More and more, consumers are opting to do their shopping from their home using the Internet. With the busy holiday season upon us, don't let the pressures of finding the perfect gift allow you to let down your guard. Practice the same safety precautions now as you do throughout the year.

The Extension publication “Making Your Ride on the Internet Safer” provides helpful suggestions for selecting an Internet Service Provider (ISP), dealing with electronic mail, phishing, spam, and spyware.

In addition, it tells how to deal with cookies that sites place on your computer to track your activities online, how to ensure your privacy online, and how to select a secure site. It also provides contact information for the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), where you can file a consumer complaint online.

The FTC offers several tips on shopping online. They can be found at www.ftc.gov. Some of the tips include:

€ Shop wisely - know who you are dealing with, protect your privacy, only use a secure server, guard your password and pay the safest way. A secure server will have a padlock in the lower right corner of the screen and begin with https.

€ Know your rights - check the refund/return policy, read the fine print, check delivery dates, review warranties.

€ Get the best deal - compare prices, check shipping and handling fees, order early to allow plenty of time for shipment and delivery.

€ Keep good records - track your purchases and keep receipts and Web site printouts.

Other safeguards include checking out the company's security and privacy policies to make sure your name and buying history will not be sold to others before making a purchase.

Look for the Trust-e symbol or the Better Business Bureau's online seal that indicates the site's business practices have been independently audited and are consumer friendly. If the site does not have the BBB or Trust-e symbol, check with www.bbbonline.org for information on the company. Under no circumstances should a shopper commit to a big-ticket purchase without determining the firm's track record.

Look up desired items in such places as Consumer Reports or a site such as www.bargains.org, a service center for the study of services and the model numbers. There also are countless search engines designed specifically for e-commerce.

Check for additional costs associated with the purchase because there may be high shipping and handling fees.

If a company offers an 800 number or a FAX alternative, use it because it is more difficult to steal personal and financial information that way. Always pay with a charge card since you are then covered under the Fair Credit Billing Act.

For more information, and to obtain a copy of the publication, “Making Your Ride on the Internet Safer,” please stop by the Bell County Cooperative Extension Service office.

Sources: Bob Flashman and the Federal Trade Commission

Thelma Pursifull is the Bell County Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences