That's Not What I Ordered: Don’t Get Caught In an Online Shopping Scam
The internet has changed the shopping experience forever. There’s no longer a need to fight traffic or crowds to get the best pickings at your favorite stores. You can order anything you want and everything you need without even getting off your couch and have it all delivered right to your doorstep. Unfortunately, though, sometimes, what you get from shopping online is not what you ordered.
In an online shopping scam, fraudsters exploit the anonymity of the internet to scam victims into sharing their money and their information. Let’s take a look at these scams and how to keep yourself from falling victim.
How online shopping scams work
Online shopping scams can lure in even the savviest of shoppers as scammers employ a variety of creative tactics to appear authentic. Here’s how they deceive their victims:
Fake websites and ads. Here, fraudsters create counterfeit websites or ads that mimic legitimate retailers and offer popular branded items at ridiculously low prices. Once payment is made, the promised items are never delivered. In some cases, a counterfeit item of very poor quality will show up at the customer’s door instead of the item they thought they ordered.
Social media deception. In this version, scammers set up fake profiles or pages on social media platforms, promoting deals that seem too good to be true. These profiles often use stolen logos and images to appear authentic.
Phishing emails. Here, victims receive emails that appear to be from reputable retailers, prompting them to click on malicious links or provide personal information, leading to unauthorized transactions or identity theft.
Red flags to watch for
To protect yourself from an online shopping hack, be vigilant while looking out for these warning signs:
Unbelievable deals. Offers that seem too good to be true often are. Be extra wary of significant discounts on high-demand items.
Unusual payment methods. Requests for payment via wire transfers, gift cards or cryptocurrency are common in scams, since these methods are hard to trace and recover.
Lack of contact information. Legitimate businesses provide clear contact details. Be wary of websites that lack a physical address, customer service number or email.
Poor design. Spelling and grammar errors, low-quality images and broken links are all signs of a fraudulent site.
Protective measures
Don’t get caught in a shopping scam! Take these steps to avoid falling victim:
Research sellers. Before making a purchase, look for reviews and ratings. A lack of online presence or negative feedback should lead you to question the credibility of the company or offer.
Verify website security. Ensure the website uses HTTPS in their site address as indicated by a padlock icon in the address bar, which signifies a secure connection.
Pay with a credit card. Credit cards can offer better fraud protection than debit cards and allow you to dispute unauthorized charges more easily. This way, if a purchase turns out to be less than you ordered, you can reclaim the lost funds.
Avoid public Wi-Fi for transactions. Public networks can be insecure. Use a secure, private connection when making purchases online.
Steps to take if scammed
If you believe you’ve fallen for an online shopping scam, take these steps to mitigate the damage:
Contact your credit union, bank or credit card company. Report the fraudulent transaction immediately to initiate a chargeback and/or freeze your account.
Report to authorities. File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at reportfraud.ftc.gov and your local consumer protection agency to help them apprehend the scammers.
Monitor your accounts. Keep an eye on your checking and credit card statements for any unauthorized transactions.
Change your passwords. If you created an account on the fraudulent site, be sure to change your passwords for any other accounts that use the same or similar credentials.
Warn others. Share your experience with friends and family to prevent them from falling victim to similar scams.
Don’t get caught in an online shopping scam. Use these tips to stay safe!