Online shopping can be fun and convenient. It has opened up many doors for the world, it’s a great way to find the best deals for a purchase you’re looking to make. It’s not only amazing for shopping but also great for selling things that you no longer need or buying direct from a seller (new or used).
However, not everyone is honest. So it’s important to #BeFraudSmart while shopping online. When it comes to online scams, the key is to keep an eye on small details. If you can master that, you can easily spot, avoid and outsmart scammers.
You might wonder “How can I spot a scam?”, first step is to note that internet scams don’t all work in the same way. And, to fully benefit from the experience of online shopping, remember to look for these signs:
Website design, information and prices
Websites that are poorly designed, with repeated/missing product information, or overly attractive with prices are too good to be true, are some of the first signs to be careful of when shopping online.
When you browse through a merchant website that you’ve never heard of or come across for the first time, it’s best to do quick research. Go on Google or any trusted search engine and look for reviews about the website or seller. If a site has no reviews or mostly bad ones, take that as your sign to stay away: DON’T buy from that site or seller.
Tip: Check the URL, trusted and secure websites always start with HTTPS, not just HTTP.
Unusual payment methods
When you’re about to make a purchase online, ALWAYS check the payment methods used by the website or seller you’re purchasing from. If it’s a suspicious or unknown payment gateway, don’t commit to paying through it.
One of the common scam scenario is when a “buyer” pays for a product through a fake check that’s worth more than the selling price listed by the seller. Then the “buyer” tells the seller to wire transfer the difference amount. But unfortunately, before the fake check bounces, the “buyer” picks up the wire transfer.
Another scenario is when a “seller” doesn’t accept credit cards or checks, but only accepts money transfers. Some “sellers” also urge the buyers to make payment immediately. When these scenarios take place, think twice before you pay. Because these just some common excuses to get your hard earned money.
Tip: NEVER enter your personal details on a form or website that doesn’t support secure transfer methods. ALWAYS check your receipt when you pay for a product.
Scammers are everywhere but you can protect your hard-earned money by following these #BeFraudSmart tips to outsmart them, online and offline:
- Enable two-factor authentication on your accounts. So, your personal details are not easily accessible to scammers.
- Keep your personal and private information safe.
- NEVER send money to a person that you’ve not met in person.
- Avoid clicking on pop-up ads, they can sometimes lead to suspicious websites.
- Log out of accounts when using a shared or public computers.
- Double-check the links before you open them. You can hover over a link to check the entire URL or address.
Stay vigilant, and you can continue to experience the convenience of online shopping from anywhere!
