During the holiday season, it has become more common for gift purchases to be made online. Stay alert when shopping online to avoid being scammed.
One of the most common scams during the holiday season is online shopping site scams. Scammers create websites that look like legitimate online stores but are actually designed to steal your personal and financial information. They may offer products at very low prices or claim to have limited-time deals or exclusive items. They may also send you phishing emails or text messages.
Scammers will also post fake ads on social media that can lead to these fake sites, even using a real company’s logo to try to seem legitimate.
Signs include:
- The website address does not match the name of the store or brand.
- The website has poor design, spelling and grammar errors.
- The website does not have a secure connection (https) or a padlock icon in the address bar.
- The website asks for too much personal information, such as your social security number or bank account details.
- The website does not have a clear return policy, contact information or customer reviews.
To avoid falling victim:
- Shop only from trusted and reputable online stores that you know and have used before.
- Check the website address carefully and look for any red flags.
- Do some research on the online store before making a purchase. Read customer reviews, look for ratings or search for complaints online.
- Use a credit card or a secure payment service like PayPal when shopping online. Do not use debit cards, wire transfers or gift cards.
- Keep track of your online purchases and monitor your bank statements for any unauthorized charges.
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Beware of These 5 Holiday Scams, Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report, FOX News.
So Online Scam is Not What You Ordered, Kira Krown, Consumer Alerts, Federal Trade Commission.