Online shopping increased by 30% in the first six months of 2020 compared to 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. That's great news for e-commerce retailers - it's also great news for cybercriminals. The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center warned of an increase in online shopping scams in August 2020. These scams place advertisements for various items on social media platforms or search engines which link to illegitimate websites. Knowing what to look for and how to recognize fake deals can save you from purchasing an item you may never receive.
Do Your Research
Fraudulent websites may sell defective or low-quality merchandise, while others are not actually selling items at all. Entering payment information on a fake site can result in stolen funds or identify theft. Consider these tips to prevent yourself from falling victim to an online shopping scam:
• Purchase from stores you know and trust. If you have ordered from a website in the past with no issues, create a bookmark to access it. This can prevent you from accidentally entering an incorrect address that leads to a counterfeit site.
• Read reviews. Enter the store name or website in a search engine and see if other shoppers have had any complications buying from there. Multiple complaints of customers being scammed or having issues receiving their order may be a red flag.
• Be skeptical of large discounts. If you find an item on the web for significantly less than usual, odds are the deal is too good to be true. Do a price check on other reputable sites to see if the sale aligns with any other sellers. It may be safer to spend a little more and buy directly from the seller or verified retailer rather than a third party.
• Verify web addresses. Scammers often use a variation of a legitimate URL to deceive shoppers. For example, www.NordstromRack.com is the correct address for Nordstrom's discount outlet. A scammer could add just one letter to the URL making it “www.NordstromsRack.com”. Adding or subtracting “s” or switching the position of a letter are common tricks often overlooked by shoppers if the fake site closely resembles the original.
• Review return and refund policies. Online stores should have a clearly posted return policy on their website – much like a physical store. Ensure that you can be refunded if you do not receive or are not satisfied with your purchase.
Take Preventative Steps
Before you enter an online shopping site consider the following security tips:
• Use multiple passwords. Create a unique password for each online account you have. Reusing passwords could give access to multiple accounts – not just the one initially hacked. Utilizing a password manager is a helpful tip for keeping track of account login information.
• Consider your payment options. Whenever possible, use a credit card for online purchases. Although a debit card transaction can be disputed, it may be more difficult to recover funds because they are immediately withdrawn from your bank account. Using a trusted third party payment service like PayPal or Google Pay is another option that does not give the seller direct access to your payment information. Gift cards also ensure a site is not receiving your banking information.
• Connect to a secure network. Do not enter your payment information on an online shopping site while connected to a public Wi-Fi network. Any data on your device could be accessible to hackers while you are on an open network. Connect to a password protected Wi-Fi that you trust or use your phone as a hotspot if you make a purchase online while out of your home.
A well designed online store does not always mean it is a secure one. Don’t skip out on verifying a site’s legitimacy before making a purchase. If you come across any red flags, it may be worth it to buy directly from the brand and know you will receive what you paid for. For more ways to prevent yourself from a cybersecurity scam, please visit https://www.bankfive.com/Resources/Learning/Security.
Do Your Research
Fraudulent websites may sell defective or low-quality merchandise, while others are not actually selling items at all. Entering payment information on a fake site can result in stolen funds or identify theft. Consider these tips to prevent yourself from falling victim to an online shopping scam:
• Purchase from stores you know and trust. If you have ordered from a website in the past with no issues, create a bookmark to access it. This can prevent you from accidentally entering an incorrect address that leads to a counterfeit site.
• Read reviews. Enter the store name or website in a search engine and see if other shoppers have had any complications buying from there. Multiple complaints of customers being scammed or having issues receiving their order may be a red flag.
• Be skeptical of large discounts. If you find an item on the web for significantly less than usual, odds are the deal is too good to be true. Do a price check on other reputable sites to see if the sale aligns with any other sellers. It may be safer to spend a little more and buy directly from the seller or verified retailer rather than a third party.
• Verify web addresses. Scammers often use a variation of a legitimate URL to deceive shoppers. For example, www.NordstromRack.com is the correct address for Nordstrom's discount outlet. A scammer could add just one letter to the URL making it “www.NordstromsRack.com”. Adding or subtracting “s” or switching the position of a letter are common tricks often overlooked by shoppers if the fake site closely resembles the original.
• Review return and refund policies. Online stores should have a clearly posted return policy on their website – much like a physical store. Ensure that you can be refunded if you do not receive or are not satisfied with your purchase.
Take Preventative Steps
Before you enter an online shopping site consider the following security tips:
• Use multiple passwords. Create a unique password for each online account you have. Reusing passwords could give access to multiple accounts – not just the one initially hacked. Utilizing a password manager is a helpful tip for keeping track of account login information.
• Consider your payment options. Whenever possible, use a credit card for online purchases. Although a debit card transaction can be disputed, it may be more difficult to recover funds because they are immediately withdrawn from your bank account. Using a trusted third party payment service like PayPal or Google Pay is another option that does not give the seller direct access to your payment information. Gift cards also ensure a site is not receiving your banking information.
• Connect to a secure network. Do not enter your payment information on an online shopping site while connected to a public Wi-Fi network. Any data on your device could be accessible to hackers while you are on an open network. Connect to a password protected Wi-Fi that you trust or use your phone as a hotspot if you make a purchase online while out of your home.
A well designed online store does not always mean it is a secure one. Don’t skip out on verifying a site’s legitimacy before making a purchase. If you come across any red flags, it may be worth it to buy directly from the brand and know you will receive what you paid for. For more ways to prevent yourself from a cybersecurity scam, please visit https://www.bankfive.com/Resources/Learning/Security.