It can be so scary hearing about all the risks that one is exposed to on the internet. There have been tales of people’s identities being stolen and their credit cards used by the thief to spend as they please, as Melissa McCarthy did in the Identity Thief movie. Anyway, the security risks still do not put people off getting stuff online; it’s way too convenient purchasing online, so it’s safe to say the Amazons and the E-Bays are not going away any time soon. That said, it’s important to get all the information that one can get to help avoid being scammed online, and that’s why we’ve come up with these four steps that will help anyone smell a scam from a mile away [1].
Verify that the supplier is reliable
With about $5 monthly, anyone can set up an online store. Easy right? Yeah, scammers would agree. It’s very important to verify that a store is indeed selling the stuff displayed on their online store, before doing any transactions with them. One way to do this is to check the domain name. If it looks as if it’s a misspelled name of another reputable store, 99% of the time it’s a scam. An example would be someone opening an online store and naming it Amazzon. Many people miss this, but to avoid issues, one has to be very observant. Another option is to use the service of a website called The Better Businesses Bureau. What they do is to take the records of customer relations of different businesses and use it as a basis for a ranking system. So anyone can just run a check if they don’t feel right about an online store.
Look at the web address
Before deciding to enter any sensitive information into a website, first make sure the website is encrypted and thus safe. An encrypted website would always have “https://” preceding the name of the website. If this is absent, entering one’s card details in such a website is tantamount to handing one’s money to thieves willingly.
Beware of malicious e-mails
No matter what, no reputable company will ever request that one should forward their card details via email. Any such emails are obviously from malicious individuals looking to take advantage of unsuspecting people. Most times, they ask that a link be clicked. DON’T! Anyone who receives such an email, even if it seems to be from a familiar business, it’ll be better to visit the actual website of said business and contact them directly for clarification. They are most probably oblivious of the mischief being perpetrated in their name.
Do not make impulsive purchases
It is the desire of a store for a person to get as many things as they can before leaving, making one purchase stuff they didn’t plan for or even need. The sugar being close to the coffee at the local store is not by chance, but a calculated tactic. Online stores employ the same tactic, spurring people to make purchases on impulse. To avoid spending unnecessarily, we advise people to employ a 15 minute tactic of their own. Before checkout, leave the items in the cart and relax for 15 minutes. Then, go over the items in the cart and get rid of the stuff that are unnecessary.
Sources
[1] “14 Tips for Safe Online Shopping” (2020) https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/14-tips-for-safe-online-shopping
