Serving Online Consumers

The Guardian eCommerce Privacy Seal Program helps online consumers worldwide clearly identify Web sites that respect the online safety, online privacy, and e-commerce security of consumers. Dedicated to online consumer protection, the primary objective of Guardian eCommerce is to enable consumers to engage in e-commerce with our Privacy Seal Program member sites in a safe, secure, and private manner. As an Internet user and online consumer, you have a right to expect online privacy and online safety from Web sites. You especially have the right to choose how your personal information is handled by Web sites. One of the things our Privacy Seal Program ensures is the online privacy protection of consumers through open disclosure, enabling consumers to make wise and informed choices.

Genuine Privacy Seals And Site Seal Authenticity

Is it an authentic Guardian eCommerce Privacy Seal Logo? When you see the Guardian eCommerce Privacy Seal on a Web site, click on the privacy seal logo to see if the Web site is displaying our authentic Privacy seal and if it is approved by Guardian eCommerce. If you did not receive a secure Guardian eCommerce certification page when you clicked on the privacy seal, please report this immediately to Guardian eCommerce, ([email protected]). Please report the URL of the suspect Web site. Guardian eCommerce will pay you a cash reward for each Web site reported to us that proves to be displaying our Privacy Seal Program site seal logo fraudulently.

Online Safety For All

We not only serve Web sites BUT we also to serve online consumers by: a) requiring our member Web sites to adhere to our online safety, e-commerce security, and online privacy standards, b) clearly identifying Web sites approved by Guardian eCommerce, through the use of the Privacy Seal Program logo, c) acting as a non-objective trusted third party to resolve disputes between member Web sites and online consumers, and d) providing a consumer resource guide for information about consumer protection or online privacy protection.

Online Consumer Protection Key Links

This area of the Guardian eCommerce Web site has been designated for you, the online consumer. To learn more about Guardian eCommerce, the Privacy Seal Program, online privacy, or even online safety, check out these topics:

• An Online Shopping Guide For Consumers - a great online consumer resource guide for online shopping
• Federal Trade Commission (FTC) another online shopping guide for online consumers.
• A Safe Online Shopping Guide For Consumers - a 'stop before you shop' online consumer resource guide.
• Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Consumer Resource And Guide an online consumer resource guide about online privacy and online safety.
• Consumers Guide To Online Privacy (Consumer Resource And Links) - an online consumer resource guide to online privacy, privacy policy information, right to privacy advocacy groups, and more.
• Privacy Seal Program Information - a quick description of the Guardian eCommerce Privacy Seal Program, and how it works for all member Web sites and online consumers.
• Guardian eCommerce Credit Card Fraud Protection - a consumer resource guide from Guardian eCommerce providing credit card fraud prevention tips for consumers.
• Guardian eCommerce Internet Fraud Protection - a consumer resource guide from Guardian eCommerce providing Internet fraud prevention tips for consumers.
• Safe Online Shopping Tips - a consumer resource guide from Guardian eCommerce providing safe online shopping tips.
• File A Complaint And Report Internet Fraud - this is where online consumers can voice their concerns, report Internet fraud, or file a complaint.
• Important Consumer Alerts! - a consumer resource guide for up-to-date important online consumer alert information. Help protect yourself from Internet fraud, Internet scams, and other Internet crimes. Check out the consumer alert page.
• Online Consumer Forums - go to Guardian eCommerce online consumer forums to post alerts, report Internet fraud, and other Internet annoyances. Use our online consumer forums to help other online consumers worldwide.

Privacy Seal Program Member Sites

The Internet is rapidly growing, with e-commerce becoming very popular with Internet users. While engaging in e-commerce or online shopping with sites on the Web, we believe that online consumers should understand how to identify a Web site that is committed to consumer online safety and online privacy. Web sites need to prove their trustworthiness and reliability before consumers engage in any online transactions. With the Guardian eCommerce Privacy Seal Program, we provide online consumer assurance, because online consumers know instantly if a Web site they visit can be trusted. View Consumer Protection Warranty >>

Online Consumer Transactions

While millions of online consumers engage in e-commerce, there are still many online consumers uncomfortable with the concept of online shopping or executing online transactions.  This is particularly due to strong online safety and online privacy concerns that some consumers still have. The need for online safety is greater now more than ever, especially in an Internet environment increasingly plagued with Internet scams and other Internet crimes. This has become a major obstacle for honest Web sites to overcome. Therefore, it is our intention to ultimately dispel some of those e-commerce fears some still have by ensuring their online safety. The Privacy Seal Program does exactly that. The fact is that there are Web sites that are committed online safety, which includes the respect for online privacy, e-commerce security, and online consumer protection. We intend on exposing these sites through the Privacy Seal Program.

Privacy Seal Trustmarks (Site Seals)

The foundation of the Guardian eCommerce Privacy Seal program is the Privacy Seal, which is an online branded seal logo or trustmark, that helps online consumers clearly identify safe sites on the Web that respect online privacy, e-commerce security, and online safety.  The seal is awarded only to approved Privacy Seal Program member Web sites that adhere to our established site requirements and code of ethics standards. The Guardian eCommerce Privacy Seal Program is based on online privacy and e-commerce security principles that encompasses fair information practices approved by the Canadian Association of Internet Providers' Privacy Code, Canadian Marketing Association's Online Code, U.S. Department of Commerce, and the Federal Trade Commission (USA).

These online privacy and e-commerce security principles include:  a) the adoption of an online privacy policy that considers consumer anxiety over sharing personal information online;  b) notice of disclosure with regards to personal information collection and use;  c) choice and consent, giving online consumers the right to have control over their personal information; and  d) data e-commerce security and quality measures implemented that ensure the security and accuracy of personally identifiable information. Online consumers should always look for a genuine trusted third party site approval seal. This confirms a Web site has been verified and approved for ensuring online consumer protection with regards to online privacy and e-commerce security. Online consumers can be assured that our Privacy Seal Program member Web sites adopt the same commitment and drive towards e-commerce security and online privacy as we do.

What The Privacy Seal Mean

What does it mean when a Privacy Seal Program member Web site displays any one of our Privacy Seal Program logos? It means they have agreed to comply with our standards for online privacy, e-commerce security, and consumer protection, which includes: the disclosure, security/collection of personal information, and the guidelines for its use. In terms of online privacy, online safety, and e-commerce security, our Privacy Seal Program logo displayed on a Web site means that:

• online consumers are aware of what personal information is collected
• online consumers will know how their personal information will be used and...
• who the personal information will be shared with, if applicable
• personal information of online consumers will be in a SSL secure session and encrypted, when in transit, (online security is assured!)

A Privacy Seal Program member Web site that displays our Privacy Seal logo, (i.e. our online branded seal or trustseal logo) ALSO means that Guardian eCommerce has verified:

• the physical operating and contact address of the Web site
• the legitimacy and credibility of the content and information provided by the Web site
• the good standing of the Web site in the global Internet business community
• the Web site's utilization of a valid SSL certificate, SSL security, and SSL technology for the encryption of financial/personal data (where applicable only)
• the legal business and trade information of the Web site
• the use of and compliance with a privacy policy that meets current online privacy standards, advising consumers how their personal information will be used
• compliance with our e-commerce code of ethics and site requirements

Guardian eCommerce assures online consumers that its approved Privacy Seal Program member Web sites clearly displaying our Privacy Seals are trustworthy, safe, and secure. To provide FURTHER online consumer assurance, Guardian eCommerce provides consumer protection warranty coverage in the 'highly unlikely' event a claim is filed against one of our Privacy Seal Program member Web sites.

Reviewed, Verified, And Approved!

Our Privacy Seal Program member Web sites have been verified and approved, meeting online safety and online privacy measures for consumers to safely conduct business online.  A Web site verified and approved by Guardian eCommerce is one that can be trusted! We award the Privacy Seal Program logos ONLY to those sites on the Web that meet or exceed our online safety requirements. Our Privacy Seal Program site requirements revolve around e-commerce security and online privacy found in our site code of ethics and site requirements, so consumers can transact with confidence! Visit a Privacy Seal Program member site and simply click on the Privacy seal (site seal logo). You will be securely re-directed to a time-stamped certification page verifying that Web site's participation in our Privacy Seal Program.

And Report Internet Fraud!

The Guardian eCommerce file a complaint and report Internet fraud initiative has helped many online consumers. Help Guardian eCommerce continue to rid the Web of unsafe, fraudulent, and even suspicious sites. As an online consumer, we urge you to file a complaint or report Internet fraud. Alternatively, you can contact Guardian eCommerce for more information about our file a complaint and report Internet fraud initiatives.

Non-Compliant Member Web Sites

Complaints against Privacy Seal Program member sites will be investigated and verified. Be assured, in the highly unlikely event a member Web site is found to be non-compliant with our online privacy, e-commerce security, and/or consumer protection standards, they will be required to remove it's Privacy Seal Program site seal logo their Web site.