Online shopping is convenient, but it also increases your chance of becoming a victim of fraud and scams. Scammers are coming up with new strategies to take advantage of gullible customers as more people use the internet to complete their shopping needs. It is imperative to exercise caution and be aware of the typical scams that could compromise your online purchasing experience, ranging from fraudulent websites to dishonest vendors. When you shop online, be aware of these scams.
Spoofed site scam
In order to resemble the websites of reputable sellers and trick you into divulging credit card information or contact information, scammers frequently construct fake webstores. It is not sufficient to assume that a website with a decent appearance is safe, even though a badly built, amateurish website with broken links usually indicates a false website. While seeing a locked padlock icon in the address bar is encouraging, confirm that the website’s name corresponds with the one to which the security certificate has been issued. To verify, simply click the padlock icon.
Unbelievable deal dilemma
Even though there are many amazing offers to be discovered online, it’s still true that if a price seems too good to be true, it probably is. Moreover, if you never receive the items, a deal isn’t worth it. Aside from the cheap price alone, it’s a red flag if the website requests payment in advance to activate a discount or prevents you from using a more secure payment option, like a credit card. It’s best to spend your money elsewhere if the firm doesn’t have a clear return policy or if you can’t find their location or phone number.
One-time passcode ploy
Multi-factor authentication, or MFA, is a common way for us to increase the security of our online accounts, including the accounts we use to shop at stores. MFA is a multi-step login procedure that asks you to verify your identity in addition to your password by entering a special, temporary code that is supplied to you (by SMS or email, for example). A good company won’t ask for this code, and you won’t get one by accident. However, if a fraudster gains access to your account information and attempts to log in, they might attempt to con you out of the one-time code by posing as a trustworthy business. If someone contacts you asking for a one-time passcode, never give it to them.
Learn more about shopping scams at https://newscanada.com/en/3-common-scams-to-watch-for-when-shopping-online-137640
Reference: https://newscanada.com/
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