While brick-and-mortar retailers are expecting a slowdown this holiday season due to the economic downturn, e-tailers are poised for brisk sales as consumers go online to search for bargains. Though shopping from the comfort of home offers a sense of security and privacy, we still have to be careful how we shop and who we buy from. After all, consumer online payment fraud complaints climbed to $239 million in 2007 from $198 million the previous year, according to the Internet Crime Complaint Center. But the good news is you can shop with confidence if you follow these e-shopping best practices.

First, always make sure that you are surfing safely by using comprehensive computer security software, such as McAfee® Internet Security and McAfee Total Protection. And keep your software up to date to protect yourself from malware and identity theft while you’re shopping.

The next step is to make sure you’re dealing with reputable online sellers. Do your homework by looking for the McAfee SECURE™ trustmark, which assures you that the site has been tested for identity theft and credit fraud. If the site doesn’t have our trustmark, and you’ve never made purchases from the site before, you might want to send the seller an email or call their toll-free number to make sure you get a response. If a seller only publishes an email address and no telephone number, beware. Make sure you can reach the seller via email or instant messenger (IM) before you buy. And never make purchases from spammers who send you email advertising deals on various items. These are almost always scams, and the chances of actually receiving the items you purchase are very low.

Once you’ve found a seller that you think is safe, check out the site’s return policy and terms and conditions to make sure there are no hidden fees or murky language. You also want to check to make sure the site has encryption before you start the payment process. Encryption turns your personal data into code, making it difficult for unauthorized people to read. You can find out if a site is encrypted by looking for a lock symbol in the web browser. Also, a secure web address usually starts with “https://” instead of just “http://”. Remember, encryption is an Internet safety standard and should be offered by all legitimate online sellers.

When it comes time to complete your purchases, pay with a credit card instead of using a debit card, cash or a wire transfer. If something goes wrong, you can more easily dispute fraudulent charges with a credit card. Most credit card companies have policies that limit consumers’ liability in the case of online fraud, whereas if you pay with cash or a debit card, it could be difficult, if not impossible, to get your money back.

Once your transaction is complete, print your receipt and check your credit card statement to make sure that the charges are accurate. When the items arrive, inspect them and notify the seller if there are any problems.

Online shopping can be fun, easy and painless, provided you take a few precautions. If you follow these best practices, and listen to your gut when it tells you something is awry, you should have a pleasant online experience.