Cyber Monday

Online shopping is usually on its peak Monday after Thanksgiving, which is known as Cyber Monday. Though retail sales have not been good, but online sales continue to soar. What are the best items online right on the holiday season: Susan Boyle's new CD and Zhu Zhu hamsters.

Cyber shoppers, be on guard against Cyber Monday fixers and scams. Here are some tried and tested tips to help you out on your online shopping.

Take caution on online scams.

TIP 1: The first thing you have to do is to protect your computer. Install spam filters, anti-virus, anti-spyware software and a secure firewall and keep them UPDATED.

TIP 2: Compare prices, get the best deals through extrabux.

Extrabux is a cash back site and an online shopping portal. In extrabux, you can compare prices, find coupon codes and get cash back after making your purchases.



Next step, do background check. Check who your seller is. If he/she is dealing with you with an unfamiliar name and giving you unrealistic offers, don't plunge it with the offer right away. You can check unfamiliar names through Better Business Bureau's search function at www.chicago.bbb.org. See to it that they have a physical address and they have a clean record.

After doing a background check, order securely by submitting your order through a secured Website. Search for "https:" and not http: right in front of the URL of the site. Also, in the lower right corner, there must be a lock symbol.

Consider shopping not when you're hooked through an open wi-fi connection in a coffee shop/airport/cafe/etc.

And most importantly, check your credit statements frequently than merely waiting for your paper bill.

Happy online shopping.