Online Shopping Safety Checklist Before You Pay
It started like any other Monday. Coffee in one hand, a $19.99 “too-good-to-be-true” pair of earbuds on my screen. Timer counting down, banner shouting “Only 3 left.” I almost typed my card number—then something small felt off. The URL looked strange. The padlock icon wasn’t there. I closed the tab. Two days later, the site vanished. If you’ve ever felt rushed by a countdown clock or free-shipping banner, this checklist is for you. Below is the exact routine I now run—every single time—before I pay online. It takes under three minutes, and it has saved me from more scams than I care to admit. Table of Contents $19.99 Almost Got Me A quick story If you shop online read this first My 7-step pre-payment routine you can copy Red flags you should never ignore Quick checklist before you click pay Final takeaways you can share $19.99 Almost Got Me — A Quick Story I didn’t lose money that day—but only because I paused. The store looked...