Protect yourself from online shopping scams | 12 Points |

During the pandemic, online purchases have skyrocketed, and scammers are taking advantage of it. It’s always essential to protect yourself from online shopping frauds in Pakistan and around the world. What is the most important question here? How can I protect myself from online shopping fraud? 

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) reports that online shopping scams have become a lucrative business for criminals because consumers are increasingly buying goods online. Every day, millions of people around the world shop online, and the number of online shoppers will continue to grow.

Not All Online Shopping Platforms are Safe

Losses from online shopping scams totaled $8.4 million, according to the BBB. The number could be much higher since many people do not report online shopping fraud. According to the report, there are an infinite number of online shopping platforms, but not all are secure. 

Beware of Shell Websites

Worldwide, there are many online shopping fraud websites. Look for the lock icon and the “S” at the end of HTTP in the URL address to verify that the site is secure. One way cyber-criminals can harm you is by posting fake websites.
The website may be created by a scammer who purports to sell a specific product, but in reality, they are just trying to get your personal information, according to the BBB. Social media ads play a key role in online shopping scams, according to the report.

Precautions:

1. Reviews should be seen very keenly
2. Reviews can be faked on a website where you want to purchase something, so look to see it’s a verified review.
3. Scammers often create and shut down websites very quickly. The website Scamadvisor can often tell you how long a website has been in operation.
4. The website Fakespot will do that. It analyzes thousands of reviews looking for suspicious ones. You can even add it as an extension to your browser.
5. Before you make any online purchase at an e-commerce website you’ve never heard of, do some research.
6. That research may take you 5-10 minutes more, but in the long run you’ll save yourself a lot of heartache and you won’t be throwing away money on a scam.
7. If you’re shopping online and find that one specific item for a price that seems too good to be true, chances are it’s scam.
8. Credit cards provide increased security for online shopping compared to debit cards. Today’s EMV Chip technology in payment cards makes them harder for scammers to steal your information.
9. It’s always said, but it needs to be said again – do not use the same password for every online account. Once an online scammer figures out one password, then it’s easy for them to turn around and try it on all of your accounts.
10. It’s always best to research the website before making a final purchase.
11. Check to see what alert options are available for your credit and debit cards. You can often set different alerts that quickly notify you via text message or email when something is detected.
12. Consider utilizing a credit monitoring and fraud detecting service to keep an extra eye on your online purchases. Some checking accounts can come with the tools to protect yourself, such as identity theft monitoring and resolution services, alerts of changes to your credit report, and access to your credit score.