With the increasing rates of online shopping, the chance of encountering fraud from many e-commerce platforms increases. It is always important to protect yourself, but what are the most effective steps to achieve this?
Check out these 7 ways not to fall for online scammers, discover their tricks and what they do before you fall for scams while you shop online.
Be aware of what the price says
While you’re shopping online and you find a certain item with a price that seems too cheap to be true, this is likely to be a scam. Online scammers choose this medium to lure people in through low prices, customers think they will get a bargain when in reality they will provide their payment information which will be exploited for scam, so always check the website URL and don’t Fall into the trap of fraud. Keep your check-ins secure when you finish shopping.
Consider using a credit card instead of a debit card
Credit cards provide more security for online shopping than debit cards. Current EMV Chip technology in payment cards prevents fraudsters from stealing your information. In addition, credit cards are not linked directly to your bank accounts like a debit cards. If someone steals your debit card information, they’ll have an easier way to quickly access your bank accounts, since the money in your account is linked directly to your debit card. Credit cards can provide more protection to the consumer.
Be careful when providing your personal information
Most online payment transactions require you to sign up for an account or allow you to sign out as a guest. When you create an account, the website may store your personal information and purchase information on the website’s internal server and use it against you. The company may be hacked and customer data stolen, so your saved information may be at risk.
Checking out as a guest eliminates this possibility because the retailer does not permanently save your information. If reward points and perks are important to you, consider the risks of creating an account with the online retailer.
Do not use the same password for each account
It’s always said, but it must be said again – don’t use the same password for every online account. Once an online scammer figures out one password, it’s easy for them to go back and try it on all of your accounts. If you only have one password for each account, you are giving the fraudster free access to your information. Using different passwords prevents you from falling victim to these practices. Also, don’t worry if you find it difficult to remember all your passwords. Most retailers now have this ability to instantly verify your identity so you can quickly reset your password each time you log in.
Be careful to spot fake websites
Let’s say you find the perfect gift for a website that fulfills your wishes but a website you’ve never bought anything from. So it is best to do an audit on the website before making a final purchase. Today, scammers create bogus websites that look almost like online retailers’ websites, all with the intent of confusing you and stealing your information. Always check the website URL to make sure it is not misspelled. Also, a good rule of thumb is to do a quick search online. If other customers fall into the traps online, chances are someone wrote an online review about their experience. A little research can save you money and headaches.
Monitor your accounts with automatic alerts
Check to see what alert options are available for your credit and debit cards. You can often set different alerts that will quickly notify you via text or email when something is detected. Alerts can range from transaction amounts to fees.
Use fraud detection technology on your checking account
Consider using a credit monitoring and fraud detection service to additionally monitor your online purchases. Some checking accounts can come with tools to protect yourself, such as identity theft monitoring and resolution services, alerts of changes to your credit report, and access to your credit score.
From Black Friday Hot Deal We are here to help you, Wishing you safe shopping transactions!