Online shopping is highly convenient, though with its own amount of risks. Scammers design fake e-commerce portals in a bid to swindle innocent buyers into paying cash for non-existent goods or steal their identity. To guide you in shopping securely, following is how you can identify fake stores as well as keep yourself from becoming a victim of these scams.
Warning Signs of Fake Online Stores
- Unfair Offers and Discounts
- Massive discounting on high-end or high-priced goods.
- Impulse purchases that compel you into buying in a rush.
- No available reviews or price comparisons on similar products on other web pages.
Online shopping is highly convenient, though with its own amount of risks. Scammers design fake e-commerce portals in a bid to swindle innocent buyers into paying cash for non-existent goods or steal their identity. To guide you in shopping securely, following is how you can identify fake stores as well as keep yourself from becoming a victim of these scams.
Lack of Secure Payment Options
- The web address does not start with “https://” (the “s” is short for secure).
- No accepted forms of secure payments such as bank transfer or cryptocurrency.
- The payment page redirects to a third-party site unrelated to the brand.
No Contact Information or Commercial Credentials
- No address whatsoever or a non-existent address that cannot be found on Google Maps.
- No phone number or nonresponsive customer support email.
- No registration as a firm or certificates.
Poor Website Design
- Misspellings, grammar errors, non-working links, and a lack of a professional look.
- Poor quality images that are pirated from another website.
- Recently acquired website domain (you can do a WHOIS look-up on this yourself).
Fake or Not a Customer Reviews
- Over-the-top glowing comments with generic terms such as “Amazing product!” or “Best store ever!”
- Reviews that seem copy-pasted across multiple websites.
- No reputation on trustworthy review platforms like Trustpilot, BBB, or social media.
Unclear or Inadequate Refund Policy
- No return or refund information is available on the website.
- A rule that says “at all costs no refunds”
- Uncertain or unrealistic terms on return.
Verifying a Store on the Internet
- Review the Website
- Google in with the store name combined with terms such as “scam” or “fraud".
- Check out reviews on Trustpilot, Sitejabber, as well as on the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
- Review their social media activity—the authentic stores will be engaging with clients.
Check Domain Age and Registration
- Use WHOIS searches in order to find out when a website is registered.
- Avoid new sites with no available owner information because these are usually scams.
Customer Support Test
- Call the support team prior to purchasing.
- Fake sites will not respond at all, or give evasive, non-helpful replies.
Check URLs for Red Flags.
- Scammers often create domain names that mimic real brands (e.g., “adidas-sale.com” instead of “adidas.com”).
- Avoid opening links from unsolicited messages in social media advertisements as well as from spam messages.
Use Secure Payment Methods
- Use credit cards over debit cards or wire transfer as these are more secure from fraud.
- Use secure means of payments that have a buyers' protection.
- Don't give out more about yourself at checkout.
What to Do If You’ve Been Scammed
- Call The Bank Directly
- Report a fraud transaction whenever you can and request a chargeback.
- Change internet banking passwords if you typed in confidential information on a suspicious website.
Report The Website
- Report to relevant authorities like the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or local division of cybercrime.
- Report fraud on internet fraud databases as also on consumer protection bodies.
Warn Others
- Post about your experience on social media and review sites.
- Help others avoid similar scams by spreading awareness.
Final Thought
Online scams are more sophisticated these days, but with a little research and awareness, you can avoid becoming a victim. Make sure you research a website before you shop from it, shop on known sites, and shop securely. Trust your instincts; do not shop on a website that does not look right. Better safe than sorry.
Stay sharp. Stay cautious. Stay safe.
