What is associated with a scam?
For a crime to be seen as a swindle, such as online shopping scams several things considered, are outlined below:
No track of the payment or the item boughtNo record of the seller or the identity is unknown No contact or the contact is not recognizedNo email from the seller or no delivery driver has that item on their list or in the warehouse.
Types of online scams
There are only two types:
consumer fraud reports auction fraud and online shopping
A report released by E-Commerce indicates that 2020 alone had 63,000 consumer fraud reports came in from which around 41,00 were online shopping and auction frauds.
How to prevent online holiday scams?
There are unlimited ways found online how to prevent this but most of them are either too expensive or they just do not work. Here are some of the easiest and most simple ways to reduce this outlined below
Check the identity of the sellerPhone the number listed to see if the brand is realSee if the site is securedCheck the reviewsVerify the brand on a reliable websiteUse an app to protect your device like ForterAsk family and friends who shopped there
Apart from these, one of the main things you can do is always take your time when you are doing online holiday shopping scams, as most of the scammers may not wait too long for you to purchase and can often kick you out or prevent you from shopping there.Online frauds are most popular on holiday. There are several ways scammers work, with the most common one being online swindles, especially during the holidays. This is due to the holidays being the only times of the year when the ‘online shopping websites are most popular, and when they make most of their profit.
How do they work?
Although they work in the most complex ways, their structure of working is almost the same, which can make it easier for the police to track them. Their way of working and pattern that is used to defraud individuals as outlined below:
Upload an itemPlace a low bidUsing an unknown identity, they then place a higher bid on the same itemA higher bid withdraws before the bid closes They use fraudulent emails to show reliabilityEncourage you to send the transaction quickly They then disappear
They then disappear leaving you without no payment trace or the item bought. Although another crime rate such as thievery is the most common type of crime in the world, Uk’s national crime rate is 46%, from more than 25% is accounted for online shopping frauds.
Signs of being defrauded:
Here are some of the useful signs that you can use today to identify how you are being defrauded. So, the more you know the easier it is for you to be safe
Popular items like phones, laptops, transport, and even exclusive designer items, will be used by the scammers to seem “irresistible”Can then manipulate you to use a bank transfer for a faster payment to get the item quicker before it runs out. ‘Exclusivity’ is often a technique used by scammers to make you make the payment quicker. In some cases, they can often pressurize you to pay a deposit for, securing the item.
Selling online:
Selling online is one of the easiest and most common ways today to earn a profit, through any talent. Now today that defrauding a person is the quickest way to earn more money, as with today’s technology it is easier to scan and track the scammers.
How to protect yourself?
There are several ways listed at the beginning of this article that if properly followed can prevent you and those around you from being scammed in online holiday shopping.
Despite all the protection and guides out online an individual can still be scammed, due to individuals’ recklessness.
The unseen signs include an alert on your device saying that the site is unsafe or a scam. Other signs include
Specific discount ads that appear when you need a specific product urgentlyEmails from unknown companyUnknown or fraud phone calls Using public Wi-Fi that is not protected
Can you be protected against scamming?
Yes
Does protection against scamming cost expensive?
Differentiates on what the package includes
Can an app prevent this?
Yes
Ways to prevent the scam?
Apps, websites, protection plans
If you use your mobile data outside can you still be defrauded?
Yes
