If you’re still doing your holiday shopping and planning to buy gifts online, you’ll want to incorporate these tips from the Federal Trade Commission on being safe and smart. The FTC advises that you:

• Take time to compare products. To get the best deal, compare products. Do research online, check product comparison sites, and read online reviews.
• Check out the seller. Confirm that the seller is legit. Look for reviews about their reputation and customer service, and be sure you can contact the seller if you have a dispute.
• Look for coupon codes. Search the store’s name with terms like “coupons,” “discounts,” or “free shipping.”
• Pay by credit card. Paying by credit card gives you added protections. Never mail cash or wire money to online sellers. If the seller asks you to pay this way, it could be a scam.
• Use secure checkout. Before you enter your credit card information online, check that the website address starts with “https.” The “s” stands for secure. If you don’t see the “s,” don’t enter your information.
• Keep records of online transactions until you get the goods, confirm you got what you ordered, and that you’re satisfied you won’t have to return the item.

Simple, right? More information here. Be careful and have fun buying!