When you think of online shopping, the first thing that comes to mind is probably a positive one: You can easily compare prices and find the lowest ones. You can even choose to shop from various online warehouses and delivery services to get the best deal possible. However, this all comes at a price, and not everyone is willing to pay it. When buying online, you need to be very careful about buying. You need to make sure that you are not fooled by fraudsters and scammers looking to make a quick buck by taking advantage of people who are too trusting of online stores. Even when you shop from reputable online stores, you need to take care when you do so. You need to look out for certain red flags to ensure that you are not buying from a fraudulent source. The following are five signs that you are being scammed when shopping online.
1. The Store Has Very Low Prices
Like with most things in life, cheaper doesn’t always mean better. Plenty of retailers sells goods at prices that are too good to be true. Some give unrealistic discounts and exclusive coupons. You need to keep an eye out for retailers trying to markup their products and are trying to sell you fake goods. You are likely to pay more for their products than if you bought them from a legitimate store. To avoid falling for these sales tricks, you should look for stores that have prices that are either lower than your average shopping trip or even cheaper than you can find from online stores.
2.The Store Is Too Good to Be True
When you shop from websites that claim to sell low-price merchandise with high-quality components, you should look for things that sound too good. You need to remember that retailers will often try to oversell their products to you, so take extra care when looking at items being sold as “new” or “like new.” When looking at retailers, don’t just look at the items listed on the site. Get online feedback from other customers who have shopped the same items on how old the items are and if they have been gently used. This will help you to proceed more cautiously.
3.You’re being asked to provide personal information.
The person trying to scam you may contact you directly, sometimes via email or telephone. When they contact you directly, they usually try to get personal information such as your social security number, date of birth, address, or financial institution account number. If you receive an unknown call or an email with a link or attachment you aren’t expecting, you should be careful with the information that you give. Don’t give personal information to strangers.
4.The Store Has Too Many Fees
Some ecommerce stores impose excessive fees for convenience. You should never have to pay an extra fee to check the condition of a shipment. You need to be careful with this one, as it could signify that the goods you are receiving are not in good order. You should also know that some ecommerce companies also use hidden fees while delivering your goods, meaning that you are not even aware of them until after the fact.
5.The Store Offers Poor Customer Service
One of the most glaring signs that you have encountered fraud when shopping online is when you receive a “free” gift. It is always a bad sign when you receive a gift in return for your money, and you should be on the lookout for such instances. You should also be on the lookout for instances when the online staff working for the store does not offer you the required feedback whenever you reach out to them.
The Bottom Line
Shopping online can be fun and easy. You do not have to spend hours in queues, and you do not even have to carry as much baggage as you would if you were going to the shops in person. However, online shopping is not without its pitfalls. The best way to stay safe when shopping online is to use common sense and check the items carefully. The above tips will help you to stay away from online shopping scams.
