Top 15+ ways to spot online shopping scams

In recent years, the growing popularity of online shopping has created a golden opportunity for scammers who seek out the most vulnerable targets. As phishing techniques become increasingly sophisticated, it’s more important than ever to be able to recognize the signs that a website might be fraudulent. The following 15 tips will help you steer clear of online shopping scams.

Assess the quality of the website content

Although scam sites are becoming more and more sophisticated, there are a few signs that can help you gauge whether a website is trustworthy or not. First of all, pay attention to the quality of the website’s content, i.e., the text and images. Keep in mind that most businesses are very concerned about maintaining their online image. If you see spelling mistakes, bad translations, or overly simplistic descriptions, it’s best to be on the alert. The same is true for photos. If the images on a website are low quality, or if the photos don’t seem to go together, that could be an indicator that they were taken from other sites.

Read the company’s return and shipping policy in full

Always be sure to review the company’s shipping, exchange, refund, and privacy policies. If you notice that the policies seem vague, or if they’re riddled with spelling mistakes or feature some other detail that makes the site seem untrustworthy, avoid placing an order on that site. It’s better to be safe than sorry!

Beware of websites that ask you for too much personal information

When you buy something from a trusted website, the only time you should be asked for your banking information is at checkout. If you’re visiting a site for the first time and you see a pop-up window asking you for your credit card information or your social insurance number, it’s most likely a scam.

Find out more about the company

If you’re thinking of ordering from a website you’ve never heard of before, take some time to do a bit of research on the company. Is the “About us” section detailed enough? Most companies talk about their mission, their values, and their history. The more information there is on the site, the more likely it is to be a reliable company. But don’t stop there! It can also be a good idea to do a quick web search to see if any news articles or blog posts have been written about the company; this can help you assess whether you should trust them.

Beware of unbelievable prices

Everyone loves a good discount, but remember to stop and think before you jump on that “great” deal. If a website’s prices seem too good to be true, they probably are! You should also be suspicious of excessive discounts (e.g., 75% or 90%). Scammers often use low prices to reel in shoppers who are looking for the best deals.

Comparison shop

Let’s say you’re looking for the perfect monochrome tracksuit. Most brands you know are selling them for over $150, but you find a website that’s advertising them for $50. Buyer, beware! There’s a reason the other companies are selling their tracksuits for three times the price. Any online retailer that’s selling products for significantly less than the market rate should raise many red flags.

Check how long the website’s been online

Logically speaking, websites that have been around for several years should be more credible than those that have only recently been published. The likelihood that a fraudulent website will survive for years without getting caught is very low. To avoid falling for scams, consider checking when the website was published to assess its reliability.

Look for the company’s contact information

Reliable companies always include their contact information so that their customers can contact them in the event of a problem. If you’re thinking of placing an order on a new website, make sure the company’s contact information is clearly displayed. If a website doesn’t have a contact form or email address, that should tip you off that it’s unreliable.

Make sure the website is secure

Never share your banking information on unsecured websites. If your data is not encrypted, it could be intercepted by a third party. To find out whether a website is protected by an SSL certificate, look at its URL. If it starts with “https” rather than “http,” that means the site is secure. If you see a small padlock icon to the left of the URL, that’s also a good sign. However, be careful: scammers can also create secure websites to give consumers a false sense of security. Just because the URL has a padlock, that doesn’t guarantee that the website is legitimate. Always do a thorough security assessment before making a purchase.

Beware of unusual domain names

Most reliable companies tend to keep their domain names short and easy to remember. If you notice that a site’s domain name seems complicated or unusual, that could be a sign that it’s a scam. You should always make sure to check the spelling of the domain name, too. Some scammers try to replicate an existing website, only changing a single letter in the URL, hoping most consumers won’t notice. You should also beware of websites that end in anything other than “.com” or “.net” (e.g., “.app”).

Assess the credibility of the contact information

Sometimes websites do display contact information, but the email address listed seems unprofessional. If you ever encounter this, beware. Most reputable companies take the time to create official corporate email addresses. You shouldn’t trust companies with an email address that doesn’t seem professional to you.

Make sure to deal with an authorized distributor

When purchasing brand name items from resale sites, make sure to only deal with authorized distributors. These are often listed on the website of the brand in question. Once you’re on the resale site, make sure to do some additional verifications to make sure the website is trustworthy.

Read online customer reviews

Before making an online purchase, make sure to read the customer reviews on the company’s website, as well as on forums. More and more scammers are posting fake customer reviews on their websites, so it’s important to take extra precautions by doing a bit of online research. For example, search for the company’s name along with the words “warning,” “fraudulent,” or “scam.” This may lead you to testimonials from people who have been scammed by the company in question, or, on the other hand, you might find evidence that it’s legitimate.

Beware of ads on social media

Companies that advertise on social aren’t necessarily on the up and up. In fact, many fraudulent websites use social media ads to lure potential victims with photos of fashionable clothing and other enticing items. These ads redirect you to websites created specifically to steal your banking information. Usually, the website is taken down once a certain number of sales have been made. So, when you click on an ad for a store you’ve never heard of, always make sure to do a bit of background research before placing an order.

Choose a secure payment method

If you’ve done your due diligence and still decide to place an order on a website you’re not familiar with, our last tip is to always pay with a credit card. Major financial institutions often offer fraud protection so you can shop with peace of mind. If the website you’re using only lets you to pay with unusual payment methods such as debit cards or gift cards, it’s probably a scam.