For some folks, it feels strange at first to send a credit card number out into cyberspace. What if someone hacks in and steals the number? Havoc would ensue!

E-commerce proponents point out that it's easier for an unscrupulous store clerk or waitress to jot down your number than for a hacker to steal it. Regardless, as long as you report any fraudulent charges within a reasonable length of time (check your bank for the limit), you won't be held responsible for the charges.

This means that in the extremely unlikely event that the waitress absconds with your Visa and runs away to Maui, or a 13-year-old boy charges a new computer system to your card, you won't have to pay for it.

Credit -- not debit

We recommend that you use a credit card rather than your ATM/debit card when shopping online. You don't want any checks to bounce in the time it takes to clear up any fraud with your account.

Joe Vause of Visa offers his advice on e-commerce safety. He also tells you how to assess an e-store's credibility.

Preston Gralla, author of "The Idiot's Guide to Online Shopping," offers six tips for safe shopping. Learn a few tips on how to avoid identity thefts, identify secure websites, and investigate scams.

Protect your privacy

Most reputable online stores post their privacy policies in a fairly obvious manner. A privacy policy outlines exactly what the company will and won't do with the information you provide when you place your order. This information includes your email and street addresses, phone numbers, and so on.

You should at least skim the privacy policy to make sure you know what you're getting into.

For example, some sites snag your email address so they can send you sales and promotions. Others might share those addresses with other companies. If you don't want that, you can usually opt out. If you can't opt out, you might want to shop elsewhere.