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The time before Christmas is the busiest in commerce. More and more gift shoppers are looking for super offers online, but may also expose themselves to the dangers lurking on the internet.
Unfortunately, before Christmas each year, a growing number of shoppers find themselves deceived when making purchases online. When buying from a fraudulent online shop, it may be very difficult to reclaim the sum booked from your credit card. In the worst cases, fraudsters get their hands on people’s credit card information and the cards need to be closed.
What can one do to ensure that a great offer is accompanied by great satisfaction?
- Be sure to check the seller’s background before entering your credit card information. If a store is hard to find via a search engine, it is a sign of trouble. However, if the seller can be found, make sure to read the feedback and evaluations given.
- The quality of the web page is also an indicator. When it displays contact information and terms and conditions establishing the buyer’s rights, it is also more likely that the seller is trustworthy and the transaction will go smoothly. Fake merchants are often betrayed by their website address – if it is long, clumsy, or incomprehensible, view it as a sign that something might not be right (e.g. get-cheap-designer-clothes.net).
- Use extra caution when the website offer is located on social media (Instagram, Facebook). The page may simply disappear after making a purchase, making it extremely difficult to prove a questionable transaction.
- The contact information of fake sellers is often false or suspicious. They are also worth checking via a search engine first.
- Every online store should have its return policy presented on the webpage. If not, or if it seems obscure, buying is risky.
- It is also worth checking how long the website has been used for. Use caution when dealing with recently opened websites. See: www.archive.org.
When making purchases online with a credit card, keep in mind that you are covered by consumer rights when buying from honest sellers, but they can’t help you much in the case of fraudsters. In order to contest a transaction, the seller has to not send you the goods (usually within 2 weeks) or not return the payment for goods you have returned to them. In order for the bank to be able to help you in the case of a fraudulent transaction, you would need to have information on the seller and the purchase made.
Annoyance and wasted time are guaranteed when dealing with fraudulent online stores. It is wiser to avoid them.
Buy smart, sleep well!
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