Here we will see about the Is Amazon Safe?
With a few clicks on your gadget, you can easily purchase items from Amazon and have them delivered right to your doorstep. But there is a caveat; completing your purchase transactions on Amazon requires you entering personal details which can feel very uncomfortable and disconcerting. Check out this concise article on how Amazon protects its users’ private information.
So is Amazon safe? Yes. Amazon uses encryption protocols and software to codify users’ personal details during transmission. This ensures that your private information such as your card details, cannot be used outside the Amazon site either by Amazon itself or any of its third party sellers.
If you want to know more about how Amazon protects its users’ private details and how to stay safe while shopping for items on Amazon, read on!
How Does Amazon Safeguard Its Users’ Information?
Due to the everyday rise in the number of tech-savvy hackers, it is normal to be weary of entering personal details for online transactions. However, giant contemporary e-commerce websites like Amazon have taken certain steps to ensure that the private information of users remain well-guarded from prying eyes.
Some of these steps include:
- Password protection. With hackers inventing different methods of hacking these days, having a password consisting of letters, numbers and symbols might just not be enough. In order to drastically reduce hacking incidents, Amazon offers users the option of turning on two-step verification (2SV) for their Amazon account. Turning on 2SV adds another security layer to a user’s account and prevents strangers from gaining access.
After turning on two-step verification, Amazon will send a code to the user’s mobile phone during each log-in session. This code must be entered before the user can be allowed to log-in or access the account. To see how to turn on two-step verification, check out this Amazon video on YouTube.
- Location protection. In order to ensure users safety, Amazon will never reveal users’ location to external parties that are not connected with the transaction. This means that where a user is purchasing an item from a third-party seller, Amazon will only reveal all the information necessary for the seller to ship the item to the user. Other information irrelevant to the purchase is usually not revealed to the seller. For more information, checkout
- Card details Security. As stated in their Privacy Policy, Amazon follows the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). The PCI DSS is a global organization that stipulates guidelines for the proper collection and transferring of sensitive card details in order to prevent incidences of card fraud. Merchant businesses like Amazon who are in the business of collecting and handling card details of users are required to comply with the provisions of the PCI DSS.
How to Safely Purchase Items on Amazon?
Being a giant e-commerce site, Amazon hosts a large base of third-party sellers. By taking five basic steps anyone can sell their wares on Amazon. This has opened the door for fake sellers selling fake wares. As a result, the Amazon site has had problems with users purchasing counterfeit items or reading fake reviews of products.
But the good news is that there are simple ways to protect yourself from these fake sellers and their counterfeit items. Here are some tips that can help you purchase genuine products that will arrive as advertised.
- Purchase only Amazon Products. Amazon does a better job of vetting its own products than it does vetting that of third-parties. With items sold and shipped by Amazon itself, you are most likely to get your item as was advertised. Plus purchasing Amazon items qualifies you for free two-day prime shipping.
Moreover with items sold and shipped by Amazon, there is the advantage of returning defective goods more easily, than it is with third-party sellers. You can check out Amazon’s return policy for more detailed information. Items sold and shipped by Amazon, usually states “Ships from and sold by Amazon.com”.
- Be cautious of discounts and coupons. Almost everyone loves free stuff and there is always the tendency to make hurried decisions when that t-shirt you have been eyeing is now being sold at a discount. But while you want to get a good deal, you want to be sure that the product is not being sold at a lesser price because it is inferior. You can easily do this by sifting through the product’s reviews.
However while doing this, you are advised to be careful as some users are paid to leave fake product reviews. Online tools like FAKESPOT help you in spotting these fake reviews.
- Shop only on legit Amazon sites. Before inputting your bank details, ensure that you are on a genuine Amazon site and not a look alike. One easy way to do this is by checking the site’s URL to see what it ends with. A genuine Amazon site usually ends with your country’s code. For instance, if you stay in the U.S., it would be: https://www.amazon.co.us
- Always logout of your Amazon account. This is important especially if you are using a laptop or device which other people can have easy access to. Logging out after each purchase session, prevents strangers from accessing your account and messing with it.
Aside from practicing these tips, it is equally important for Amazon users to be cautious of clicking links in suspicious mails. Being a popular commercial site, it is common for Amazon users to receive fake emails claiming to be from Amazon. A rule of thumb is to avoid clicking links in random emails unless these mails are confirmed to have been truly sent from Amazon. You can check out Amazon’s notification center to confirm whether a mail sent to you is from Amazon.
Conclusion
Being one of the most widely used ecommerce platforms worldwide, Amazon has taken incredible steps to ensure that its users are protected from hackers and scammers lurking online to scam unwary buyers. This makes it safe to conclude that Amazon is one of the most reliable and safe platforms to conduct online purchase transactions. However, Amazon users are still encouraged to be cautious and extra vigilant when carrying out transactions on the Amazon site.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I identify legit sellers on Amazon?
- Cross-check the seller’s information. Do this by tapping on the seller’s name. This is usually included in the sentence that states “Ships from and sold by (name of the seller)”.
- Check product reviews.
- Check for products marked “Fulfilled” by Amazon. When items are marked this way, it is proof that the product has been cross-checked by Amazon.
- Is Amazon responsible for defective goods purchased from third-party sellers?
Amazon recently extended its A to Z guarantee to protect Amazon users who purchase defective goods via Amazon, such goods having caused personal injury or property damage to the user. According to the company, “Amazon will facilitate resolution of property damage and personal injury claims between the customer, the seller, and their insurance provider… If a seller does not respond to a claim, Amazon will step in to directly address the immediate customer concern, bear the cost ourselves, and separately pursue the seller”. Check out this Amazon article for full details on this.
