Hello #MYCYBERSALE 2018! A Short Guide To Buying Safely Online

The 5th #MyCyberSale 2018 national online sales even starts in less than 4 hours as of the publishing time of this article and I am very excited! September 3rd, 2018 marks the launch of Malaysia's biggest online sales event with more than 1,200 merchants taking part this year. With this many merchants, many of whom are capable and ready of shipping orders overseas, #Mycybersale 2018 aims to draw more than 13.9 million online shoppers in Malaysia from 3rd September to the end of the event on the 7th.

Before launching into the background of the event and a mini guide to buying online, let me just drop this link here so you can get ready to start shopping if you're a veteran of online shopping! :D

Start Shopping Here

And before I forget, #MYCYBERSALE has a lucky draw even for purchases over RM50 in a single receipt from any participating merchants. Submit the form via the website above to be entered into the lucky draw!

The National ICT Association of Malaysia (otherwise known as PIKOM) event is supported by the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC). According to their press release, regional and international brands taking part in the online sales event includes Lazada, Shopee, Shopback, 28Mall, Malaysia Airlines Berhad, Qoo10, Hermo, Shopback, and Unilevel, though some stores have already started on the online shopping even with vouchers and discount codes given out daily in anticipation of it.

There are bound to be a multitude of items to strike your fancy during the event, be it flight tickets and travel essentials, home and living products, food and beverages, wellness services, sporting equipments, smartphones and other electronics, or just a bunch of new skincare and makeup items and clothes! ^^

Still, it doesn't hurt to be careful and if you're new to buying online and am wary about typing your credit card details on your computer screen, here's a short guide to buying online. 

A Short Guide To Buying Safely Online

What You Need: 

1. A Secure Internet Connection

I am sometimes guilty of this too, but we really shouldn't be online shopping with free public WiFi. I'm looking at you, all the people browsing shopping sites in Starbucks and in airports. This is one example where paranoia is encouraged. Do not enter or access sensitive personal information when you're using public wifi hotspot. This includes entering your credit card information to complete a purchase, so none of that.

While it is usually safe to purchase online via WiFi, some online shops do not encrypt the information shared on their site, which makes it possible to steal your data. Be sure to check for https and a padlock icon. However, since most of the stores are linked via 

2. Credit/Debit Card or Online Banking

In order to complete online purchases, you're going to need at least either an online banking account or a debit/credit card. This allows you to  pay the merchant, obviously. ^ ^ I've noticed that recently, my debit cards are linked to my phone so that each purchase needs to be authenticated with another passcode sent directly to my phone number, so keep your phones handy as well. This added security is awesome for making sure all purchases are authorized by the owner of the cards and if you haven't gotten your banks to get around to that yet (though I'm pretty sure this is mandatory at this point), I strongly suggest doing so.

How To Stay Safe On Your Shopping Spree

1. Check Statements

With online banking so readily accessible nowadays, it's just logical to go online regularly and check for your electronic statements. Checking for credit card, debit card, and checking account statements not only keeps you on your toes with what's happening in your accounts (ie, how much you've spent), it also ensures that you're not spending over your budget.

In case of credit cards, ensure that your charges are all accurate before paying the bills. If you notice anything suspicious on your statement, notify the bank immediately!

2. Stay At Home and Use Your Own Device

I mentioned a secure internet connection beforehand, but it's worth noting again to stick to known networks, or if you're tech-savvy, use a VPN (virtual private network) when doing purchases. Don't use unfamiliar computers/devices to buy things online either! You have no idea what kind of spyware or malware might be infecting that computer.

Plus, if you shop at home, you can do it in your pj's without getting judged. :P

3. When Something's Too Good To Be True, It Probably Is

With more than 1,200 merchants taking part, it's difficult to ensure that all merchants are trustworthy, so it's up to you to keep yourself (and your money!) safe. Skepticism goes a long way toward saving yourself from a bad purchase. If something's too cheap to be true, there's probably a catch somewhere or the other.

Watch out for links that bring you out of the merchant's store. Don't let sellers conduct businesses out of the store. Basically, don't let anyone talk you into banking in payment directly into another account. This is a sure way to never see that transferred money ever again.

That's all I have to say. ^^ Happy Shopping everyone!