It's been almost 6 months since my last blog update and for that I would like to apologize. With my experience of working in fraud prevention, I have come across several situations where people had their credit cards compromised. For this reason everyone must apply caution while shopping online.
These days, most people buy goods and pay for services online, after all, it is a very convenient alternative, especially if you are a round the clock person like myself and don’t have much time on hand to go out there and shop. Almost every shopper would know that among the legitimate online shopping websites are scammers who would take advantage of any opportunity that may arise. Therefore, one must remain vigilant and make sure that the website they’re buying anything from is legitimate. Now, doing that is easier said than done. The thing is that most of these fraudsters are very adept at what they do and even if you take precautions, there’s still a chance that you might fall victim. So, what precaution should you take?
Do
a thorough research: Check the website and also the seller’s terms and
conditions. Usually, if they are a legitimate company, there would be a very
detailed list there. If there isn’t one and you feel like they are being vague
about certain policies or if something seems too good to be true, then you
might want to pause and think about going through with the purchase.
Trust
your instincts if it’s telling you that something might be really off. Are you
exchanging emails with the people behind the business? Usually, their email
address can also be a telling sign of whether they’re legitimate or not. If
they can afford to run a business then they would also be able to afford an
“official” email address. If they are using a free one then you might want to
reconsider dealing with them. This is especially so if they claim to have been
around for a while.
Check
pictures of the item itself. Are they taken from the manufacturer’s website?
If the pictures seem like they’ve been taken off the website or a stock image
then be wary. For example, If you are buying
a branded product such as an apple phone, then it would be wise to visit the company website first. Usually, they would have a list there of all the
official sellers near or around you. If whoever you plan on buying the
item from aren’t listed there then I would advise you ignore the deal and get it from a more reputable place preferably, one that’s listed.
The
price itself. One of the most common reasons as to why people buy goods online
is because of the lower price tag along with the fact that it is very
convenient. However, if the buying price of an item is significantly lower than the market value, then you might want to think twice about making
the purchase. It could be a scam. Are you willing to risk your money that way? capital NO I believe.
So there you have it, just some of the ways through which you can avoid getting scammed and losing your money. Of course, the above is not a complete list of cautionary measures to take but it is always good to have a general understanding in mind.
If you would like to discuss this case or any other fraud related topic, I invite you to contact me via email, contact@emgfraudconsulting.co.uk
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