Guide to protect yourself from online shopping scams

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Your personal or financial information could be stolen if you shop on a fraudulent website, and malware or viruses may infect your device. To protect yourself from online shopping scams, Red flag detection is essential, but once you know what to look for, it’s straightforward. Below are some hints, techniques, and resources for determining a website’s reliability.

Step 1: Keep an eye on the address bar

The https:// at the start of the address is the first thing you should check when visiting a website. The secure prefix (S) in the address bar of a website’s browser denotes that data is transferred using encryption to keep intruders out.

It’s not a given that a website is fraudulent if it starts with http:// (no S), but it’s something to look out for. You should never submit personal information onto a website that starts with http:// to be on the safe side.

A few web browsers, like as Google Chrome, assist in alerting you about unsafe websites. When a website is secure, the web URL may have a miniature padlock next to it or may be highlighted in green.

Before the https://, you might also observe the domain name next to the padlock. This indicates that the website is trustworthy and has one of the highest degrees of encryption.

Some browsers display unprotected website addresses in red or simply state “Not secure.”

If you’re unsure, you may view more information about the website’s security by clicking on the padlock or the “Not secure” message. Additionally, you can use Google’s safe site search to investigate a website. Although the https:// prefix is not a guarantee of security, it is a decent place to start.

Don’t be fooled by genuine looking fake logos.

Search websites for emblems such as DigiCert, Verisign, or Symantec, to see what security certifications they have. These logos may be copied and pasted onto a fraudulent website.

If a new tab with information on the security of the website opens when you click on the emblem of the certification, it indicates the certification is active. It’s probably fake if the logo is merely a picture and not a button.

Step 2: A domain name check

Scammers frequently construct websites with addresses that resemble those of well-known brands or businesses, such as Yah00.com or Amaz0n.net. If you’re redirected to a website from another page, it’s always worthwhile to double-check the address bar because scammers rely on you skimming over the address and domain name.

Step 3: Look up the domain age

Scammers create realistic-looking websites fairly quickly during those times because they are aware that more individuals will be shopping online during the holidays than usual. You can determine the website’s legitimacy by looking at the domain age, which shows how long the site has been operating.

You can find out who registered a domain name, where they are located, and how long the website has been live using the Whois Lookup domain tracker.

Step 4: Pay attention to spelling and grammar.

An abundance of syntax, spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and other errors could be a sign that a website was launched rapidly. Even if they make an effort to show a professional website, legitimate businesses may occasionally have an error. Look more closely if a website capitalizes every other word or uses a lot of strange punctuation and language.

Step 5: Look for trustworthy contact details

Attempt a few of the company’s contact options (phone, email, live chat, physical address). When does someone answer the phone? Do you receive a boilerplate voicemail or form email? Exercise caution if the sole means of contact are online email forms.

I once discovered a collection of related websites that all used the same “live” chat feature and produced canned responses in place of genuinely responding to my inquiries. The fact that none of the sites were legitimate was a significant red flag.

Legitimate websites ought to have a number of other components, such as a “About Us” section, terms and conditions, a privacy policy, and, if it’s a shopping website, information on shipping and returns. Examine each of those pages to make sure they exist and are stocked with accurate information.

Step 6: Use only secure payment options

Shopping websites should accept common forms of payment like PayPal or credit cards. Even if the remainder of the website appears to be legitimate, you should avoid any website that requests you use a wire transfer, money order, or other unsecure (and nonrefundable) form of payment.

Step 7: Deals that seem too good to be true should be avoided.

In order to get rid of excess inventory or make room for new products, companies will occasionally offer older merchandise at steep discounts. If, however, you encounter a website offering the most recent iPad model at an 80% discount, leave immediately. There’s a considerable chance you won’t ever see the items you buy or the money you spend.

Unclear refund policy

A trustworthy retailer will tell you how and where to return a product you’re unhappy with. Fake websites, on the other hand, will often have refund policies that are difficult to understand, hard to find or nonexistent.

If you can’t find the policy, try contacting the company to ask them directly. Stay away if you get a vague answer. Also, if they’re shipping the product, they should give you an idea of when it will arrive. Be aware that the Federal Trade Commission requires sellers to ship items within 30 days of the order if no specific date is promised.

Step 8: Do a virus check

An abundance of pop-ups or advertisements may be a sign that a website isn’t secure. Ads in and of itself are not a sign of a problem, but you should be concerned if there are more ads than content or if you have to click through multiple commercials to get to the website. You may perform a rapid scan for viruses, phishing, malware, and well-known scam websites using a number of free resources.

Installing and maintaining antivirus software on all of your devices is the greatest approach to defend against harmful websites. Check email links at all times.

Be skeptical of links that stores, strangers, your bank, or even your internet provider send you via emails or texts, especially if they require you to confirm your financial or personal information. These are typical strategies scammers employ to try and access your data or infect your device.

Step 9: Do some preliminary research.

You may learn a lot by conducting a fast online search for reviews of a website. By using the Better Business Bureau and other authorized review sites, you can investigate the seller’s reputation. It’s problematic if there aren’t any consumer reviews anywhere. Large amounts of unfavorable reviews are a definite indication to move on.

Step 10: Be proactive in safeguarding your data.

We advise using a range of tools if you visited a site that sounded dubious or want to keep an eye on protecting your identity:

• A password manager to guard against hackers accessing your sensitive information

• Identity theft protection services to safeguard your identity

• Credit monitoring to secure your financial situation

Each of these services provides an additional means of monitoring your financial and personal data.

Don’t be fooled—be empowered

As long as you keep an eye out for these warning signs and exercise caution and common sense, buying online can be a wonderful and safe experience. Realize that by knowing what to look for, you have the power to take control of your online experience rather than feeling scared by all the ways that fraudulent websites could deceive you.

Step 11 : Poor reviews

Of course, bad reviews from other users is one of the biggest signs that a website is fraudulent. Type the company’s name and “scam” into Google and see if there are any complaints about the site. Also, you can check the Better Business Bureau for reviews or use their Scam Tracker tool to see if others have reported the site.

Last but not the least -Trust your instincts

Above everything, trust your instincts. People will occasionally suspend their skepticism, according to DeMille, if it means getting the discounts they’re seeing. “I think a lot of people kind of know in the back of their heads that they’re on a website that’s maybe a little less reputable,” DeMille added. Before entering any of your credit card information, “really dive in,” “do a little research,” and “try to determine if the website is official or not.”

Request: It is our humble request to people to share their experiences in the comment box. It helps others to understand the reality of Online shopping scams.

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