Say No to Online Scams with These Tips
Shopping online is a great way to save some money but it can also be risky. It’s easy when you’re dealing with well-known and reputable brands. If you’re ordering from a favorite store that you’ve ordered from before, you can feel pretty confident buying from them again. However, there are times when you’re not sure whether you should buy something or if you’re purchasing it from the right place. Fortunately, there are plenty of tips you can keep in mind if you want to avoid getting scammed while shopping online. Next time you’re thinking of buying something, here’s what you can do.
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Watch Out for Fakes
Making sure you’re buying a quality product can be tough when you can’t see it and handle it in person. You can turn it over in your hands and you can’t try on clothes and shoes. However, you can take steps to check the quality of a product and make sure you will receive what you pay for. One thing to do is to keep an eye out for fake items. In the world of fashion intellectual property, there’s a lot of copying and theft. You need to be aware of who might sell fake items and how to avoid them. Buying from trusted sellers and approved retailers can be a good way to get the real deal.
Examine the Trustworthiness of a Site
Making sure a site is trustworthy is important before you hand over any payment details. There are some sites you might be inclined to trust automatically, such as those for established stores that you have been shopping with for years. However, even with these, it’s important to check that the site has a secure padlock in the address bar. Clicking on it will show you which site the security certificate has been issued to. Reading reviews can also help you check trustworthiness, but make sure to look at external review sites.
Be Wary of “Too Good to Be True” Offers
If an online offer looks too good to be true, it’s often because it is. When you’re offered a bargain price for a suspiciously low amount, it could be that you’re going to receive a fake or you won’t receive the item at all. That’s not to say that you can’t find excellent deals. You can often discover big discounts on plenty of items. However, if you’re going to buy something at a discounted price, make sure it’s from a trustworthy or approved seller.
Check the Contact Details
Before buying online, check the contact details for the seller. This is a good idea whether you’re buying from an online store or from a private seller. If it’s a business, check that the business actually exists and that the contact details match up to those listed on the site. If there aren’t any easily accessible contact details, it could be a sign of something suspicious.
Avoid getting scammed online by being careful when you’re shopping. Choose legitimate retailers who you can trust if you want to get a good deal.
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Newly middle-aged wife of 1, Mom of 3, Grandma of 2. A professional blogger who has lived in 3 places since losing her home to a house fire in October 2018 with her husband. Becky appreciates being self-employed which has allowed her to work from 'anywhere'. Life is better when you can laugh. As you can tell by her Facebook page where she keeps the humor memes going daily. Becky looks forward to the upcoming new year. It will be fun to see what 2020 holds.