Online shopping has literally revolutionised the way people purchase products. The number of online shopping transactions are growing every year and this is not a surprise for most people because online shopping comes with many advantages. Not only is it fast and convenient, it can be a lot cheaper. In the beginning, people were very skeptical about shopping online, but with the advancement of technology and the huge number of satisfied users, popularity has grown exponentially.
However, this doesnโt mean that purchasing online is completely safe and secure today. Unfortunately, there are still a huge number of websites that are trying to scam shoppers. In order to avoid this happening to you, here are a few tips to help you identify a scam when purchasing online.
Do your research
To start with, it is always a good idea to shop from reputable sources and e-commerce websites who have already built their brand name. Of course, new or lesser known websites can also be a good option, but only if you do proper research. Ask your friends and family, check if they have a physical store address, read online reviews and testimonials (with a pinch of salt, as lots of these are fishy too) and only shop if you feel 100% confident.
Check Security
If you are purchasing online you should be prepared to leave your personal information and credit/debit card details. Always look for websites where their payment page has HTTPS at the front of the URL instead of HTTP. The โSโ stands for secure, and is an extra certificate (called a SSL certificate) that they have to purchase yearly to ensure a secure encrypted connection. Never provide your credit card details on a website that doesnโt provide any safety protocols as these are highly likely to be unreliable websites, prone to hackers and scammers.
Check Website Design
Another thing that usually sets scammers apart from reliable online stores is the design of the website. If the website looks cheap, then it is probably because they are looking for fast money through scams. A website that is trying to sell things online will know how important it is to invest in a decent web design.
Missing information?
Furthermore, a website that is trying to scam users usually avoids the ABOUT US and CONTACT US sections or leaves only an email address for communication. A safe e-commerce website should have a telephone number and most of them also have a physical address. Feel free to contact them via phone before making any deals.
Finally, check the content on the site. Make sure that the product and service descriptions are thorough, professional and clear. And look for information about delivery policies, shipping information and terms and conditions. A scam website will miss these things or provide unclear and confusing information.
We hope that these tips will help you to recognise and avoid online scammers. Everyone deserves to go on an online shoe shopping spree and feel safe while doing so.
To purchase an SSL certificate for your website or just to find out more about online security, give the friendly Fireworks team a call on 1300 660 160 today.