With school about to start, shoppers will be out searching for the best deals on clothes, shoes, and supplies to send their babies back in style. In all the hustle and bustle of life, sometimes it is just easier to go online and purchase everything you need. Online shopping has become a way of life, people enjoy browsing from the comfort of their own homes. You can shop on your phone! That has to be one of my favorite additions to technology. However, not all those good deals online are real. In fact, scammers are coming up with all new ways of deceiving unsuspecting shoppers and online fraud has become rampant. I want to talk about Online Shopping Scams; how they work and ways to keep your money and information safe.
Online shopping scams are designed to trick consumers into providing both their personal and financial information on fake websites. The scammer takes that information and uses it for all sorts of fraudulent purposes. The goal is to trick as many people as they can in order to take as much as possible. This deception is done several different ways and there are multiple types of online shopping scams. Sometimes, the website you start on is legit, but then a scammer places a link to a fraudulent website. You click the link thinking you are making a legit purchase and there goes all your information. Just like that the scammer has all they need, and you will never see the merchandise you are expecting. Here are a few examples of online shopping scams.
- Fake websites: Scammers create deceptive websites that closely resemble legit retailers. They often use stolen logos with similar domain names to convince consumers they are the real thing. Look for https:// and a padlock icon to ensure there is a secure connection.
- Social media ads: Scammers love to use social media to place fake ads. Often times, these ads are for heavily discounted or even non-existent products. Once you click on the fake ad, you open your phone or computer up to all sorts of viruses and malware. Social media is also used by fraudsters to set up fake online stores.
- Online marketplace scams: Have you ever bought something on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace? What about eBay? While most of the time you have good experiences with sites like these, there are those people who place ads on marketplaces with the sole intent to scam someone out of their money. They advertise a product, have someone pay upfront, and then vanish with the money. Once you have paid, it is nearly impossible to get that back.
- Bogus order confirmations and shipping notices: Scammers send fraudulent emails or texts claiming to be from a certain retailer or the delivery service. Those messages will have a link and once it is clicked all sorts of malicious behavior begins to happen.
- Unusually good deals: Once again the old saying is correct……if something looks too good to be true, chances are it is. That Barbie House your daughter has begged for suddenly only costs $56.00 on some sketchy website you found on Facebook? scam What about the gaming system for your son half price and it isn’t a Black Friday Deal??? Scam. Want to purchase a vehicle off eBay that you have to travel out of state to pick up? Oh, and they want you to wire the money up front? Scam
- Payment Methods: Be cautious if a site only accepts unusual payment methods such as wire transfers and crypto. Stick to secure payment methods like credit cards that offer fraud protection.
- Out of Stock Scams: Sometimes scammers claim a product is out of stock and promises a refund that you never see. Sometimes they will offer to send a replacement item that turns out to be from a fake brand or a completely different product all together. By the time you realize the product is not legit the scammer is nowhere to be found.
- Delivery Scams: You should be cautious of emails and texts claiming issues with delivery, especially if they ask for your personal information to resolve the issue. If you have ordered something and there is a legit issue with shipment you should be notified of the delay by the company, you placed the order with. They will not ask you for any personal information or to pay any fees.
- Fake free trial offers: I’m sure everyone has seen some type of ad while either online shopping or social media that advertises free trials of certain products or brands. What’s a better way to try out an item you’ve been curious about than a 30- or 60-day free trial? Well, those trial periods end and suddenly you have a charge on your debit/credit card you don’t remember authorizing. We see this time and again with disputes.
- Fake Celebrity Endorsements: Fraudsters utilize AI technology to create fake celebrity endorsements of certain products. Scammers know that consumers are more likely to make purchases based off what their favorite celebs prefer.
Online shopping is amazing, convenient, easy, and fun…. unless you run into a scammer. Remember, if you feel uneasy about a purchase, don’t make it. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Don’t allow yourself to be pressured or rushed into a large purchase. By staying vigilant, being aware of the scams listed above, and watching out for red flags and fake websites, you can protect yourself from becoming a victim of fraud.
