Most online orders go fine. These ten checks, drawn from US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and UK National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) advice, take a few minutes and catch most problems early.

This guide is based on the public sources listed at the end. We have not tested the products or services mentioned.

This is a short reference page. The full guide is Online Shopping Rights and Returns: UK, EU, US and Canada Compared.

  1. Check the seller. Search the store's name with words like "complaint" or "scam", and compare several review sources. Star ratings alone are not enough, because fake reviews can be positive or negative. See our guide to spotting fake reviews.
  2. Work out the total. Add shipping, handling, taxes and fees. Brand-name goods at bargain prices may be counterfeit or stolen.
  3. Read the condition words. "Refurbished" or "close-out" can mean a lower condition.
  4. Check delivery. Sellers must ship as advertised. Use tracking where it is offered.
  5. Read the returns policy before buying: full refund or not, who pays return shipping, how many days, any restocking fee. Sale items often have different rules.
  6. Pay by credit card where you can. The FTC says a credit card gives the best protection, and the NCSC says debit cards give less. The NCSC says never to pay by direct bank transfer, and the FTC says never pay only by gift card, wire, payment app or crypto.
  7. Do not trust https alone. The FTC says it is not proof a shop is legitimate.
  8. Keep it minimal. The NCSC suggests filling in only required fields, using guest checkout, and not letting the store save payment details.
  9. Use strong, unique passwords and two-step verification on important accounts.
  10. Keep records: the company name and website, what you ordered and when, the price, the return policy, emails and your card statement.

If something goes wrong

Try the seller first, then dispute with the payment provider, then report it (ReportFraud.ftc.gov in the US). Our guide to refunds and chargebacks explains the steps.

Last checked: 15 October 2026. Sources: US FTC, online shopping; UK NCSC, shopping online securely.