When consumers simply don't have the time to walk around a huge shopping mall to buy anything, they turn to online shopping. It's always seen as sweat-free shopping. You and a stranger won't even have to fight for an item. You won't waste your time falling in line to pay for or exchange your purchased goods.Online shopping is a definite advantage to time-challenged consumers. Of course, it's also a clear advantage for opportunistic online criminals, so you should protect your identity while shopping online.The Possible Dangers of Shipping Online

Shoppers should be aware of the following dangers when it comes to procuring items online:

1. Fake product reviews — You can never tell which five star ratings are real or made up. It would help if you read reviews outside of the purchase site such as Twitter or Facebook.
   
   
2. Incomplete disclosure — Some sites never tell you the real deal until it's near the end of the purchase or until the purchase has been made. You may end up paying more than what you have initially read.
   
   
3. The product you order doesn't arrive — Some products do not reach the online buyers because they get lost or stolen.
   
   
4. Fake products — Fake goods have much lower prices, which are just too good to pass up. Ask questions first before buying, so that you may find out if the product is genuine or not.
   
   
5. Identity theft — There is always a risk of identity theft when you buy things online. Remember to be careful with your information at all times and never share information in a snap.

Identity theft while shopping online is very common because of unsecured purchase sites. Identity thieves utilize several tactics to lure their online victims into scams. These identity theft crimes with email scams can really persuade recipients to give their sensitive financial and personal information.

Some Tips to Remember for Online Shopping

Facing the shopping cart displayed on your monitor can be a very tempting and exciting moment. Here are some tips to take note of when you start purchasing online:

1. Shop using reputable and secure sites — Only shop in secure websites. This will make sure that your financial information isn't obtained or used illegally.
   
   
2. Access internet connections that have security keys — These sites are difficult to enter and are most likely very secure.
   
   
3. Do not offer your information — Never make the mistake of offering your information, especially your SSN.
   
   
4. Take a look at customer reviews before buying —Customer reviews will let you know if the purchases are legitimate and safe.
   
   
5. Use your credit card — Debit cards allow identity thieves to freely access your account. Once the funds are gone, it will be hard for you to get them back. It's better to use your credit card for online transactions and payments.
   
   
6. Check your reports, bills, and statements — Doing this simple routine checking will stop any identity thief from doing more damage to your account and to your identity.

You should always be careful when shopping online. Always make sure that you check your credit reports, bills, and statements to ward off identity theft while shopping online at the earliest possible time.