Do a background check

Look for a physical address, call and talk to a company representative. You can google the store name with another search term such as "complaints". If there are relatively few, your shopping experience is more likely to be a pleasant one.

Explore the Web site for third-party seals of approval.

Companies can put these seals on their sites if they abide by a set of rigorous standards such as how complaints and disputes will be resolved and how personal information can be used. If you dont readily see these seals on the site, look in the privacy policy or "Terms & Conditions" which should be clearly posted on the site.

Tip: If you do see the seals above, click them to make sure they link to the organization that created them. Some unscrupulous merchants will put these logos on their sites without permission, and they're less likely to get caught if they dont link back to the site.

Review their shipping methods and policies

Determine whether they will be able to deliver to your location, what carriers they use, their shipping rates, and if they provide tracking and insurance. Also find out where they ship from - goods are sometimes sent from international locations, which require customs and extra time.

Things to be aware of when making payments

No to cash

Never send cash as there will have no record of it being sent or received. Print copies of any information including receipts, phone numbers and web addresses of any payments sent.

Only provide information thats necessary to complete the purchase

You will probably enter your credit card number, address, and telephone number. Be wary if they ask for other information such as your ID number, bank account numbers, or your mothers maiden name. Don't give out more info than you should if buying online.

Website should use secure technology

When you get to the screen where you enter your credit card number or other personal information, make sure the Web address begins with https (for example, https://www.paypal.com/) and check to see if a tiny locked padlock appears at the bottom right of the screen.

Trust your instincts

If a site matches all the criteria above, then theres a good chance that the site is both legitimate and reliable. But as with most things online or off, if you get a bad feeling about a store, skip it and shop somewhere else.