Shopping scams are one of the worst problems facing modern shoppers. Shopping scams have been around since the beginning of capitalism, particularly in the fashion world. False postal orders have been taking place since the Victorian era when people would place orders on newspaper ads and then receive no clothes! However, since e-commerce and online shopping have strengthened their presence, shopping scams have only become more prevalent. Billions of dollars each year are lost to shopping scams - don’t let yourself become a statistic. Here are ways you can avoid shopping scams!
Make Sure The Website Is Legitimate
A leading criminal lawyer in Melbourne found that a vast majority of shopping scams were conducted through website cloning. Cyber hackers can effectively ‘clone’ a website so that it looks almost indistinguishable from the real thing. However, there will be certain changes in the URL structure, and won’t be as professional looking as the real website. Before you buy anything online, make sure that you check the website is legitimate - if you don’t, this fraudulent website could steal your data and money.
Use Your Credit Card
If you’re going to shop online, make sure that you are only using your credit card for online purchases. Credit cards are harder to steal all your savings, as they only work on a credit basis. Credit cards are usually insured against online fraud, meaning you have a better chance of getting your money back if you make your purchases using a credit card. However, make sure that you pay all of your credit cards are paid off on time, as if you don’t, your credit score could be significantly affected.
Avoid ‘Too Good To Be True’ Offers
One of the main ways you can tell an online offer could be a shopping scam is through ‘too good to be true’ offers. The premise behind these offers is that they are too good to be true. For example, they might be promoting a sale where high-end designer items are only £1. This is to maximise the amount of people who end up clicking on the ad, and losing all of their money. When you’re shopping online, always remember this quote - if something seems too good to be true, it probably is. This way, you won’t fall victim to deceptive shopping scams.
Shop In Person When You Can
One of the best ways to avoid digital shopping scams is to shop in person when you can. Although shopping scams can be done in person, it is much less likely and much harder to actually pull off. When you buy items in a shop, you will be able to see if there’s anything wrong with the item, which will prevent you from being scammed. If there’s an item you want from a local shopping location, try to get it in person if you can, to avoid being scammed. A shopping centre UK based found that a lot of its customers were visiting more and more because they were scammed online during the pandemic. Support your local economy and buy new fashions in person!
Here are 4 of the best ways you can avoid shopping scams in 2023 - protect your info and your money today!
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