Online shopping offers many opportunities, but it also carries risks. Every day there are fake websites with tempting offers that aim to deceive buyers. To avoid being scammed, it is important to be able to recognize such sites. In this article, we will look at 10 signs that will help you shop safely online.
1. Poor website layout and design
The first impression of a website makes a big difference. A well-designed site with a modern design often indicates the seriousness of the business. If the site looks outdated or its design elements are sloppy, it is most likely a sign that you have a fake resource in front of you. Poor quality design can be a sign that the owners of the site do not spend money on its development, which is a characteristic feature of scammers looking to get quick money.
What to look for:
- Low-quality images or text
- Lack of consistency in fonts and colors
- Errors in layout, e.g. unaligned blocks
2- Lack of information about the owner of the site
A credible website always provides information about its owner, company or at least contact details. Transparency in this matter shows that the site is run by real people or an organization that is responsible for its activities. If a site does not have any information about its owners or company, it could be a sign of fraud, as unscrupulous sellers seek to hide from potential claims and liability.
What to look for:
- Lack of an “About Us” section
- No contact information or company address
- Difficulty in finding legal information
3. unrealistically low prices
If the price of a product is significantly lower than the market price, this is a reason to be wary. Scammers often offer a product at a “too good” price to lure customers into buying it. Such offers may conceal not only the poor quality of the product, but also the absence of the product at all, in order to swindle you out of your money. Also, low prices can be a trap for the buyer to then offer additional services or products that will increase the final cost.
What to look for:
- Items priced too low compared to other stores
- Underpriced popular or branded items
- Huge discounts on sales
4. Not a secure connection (HTTP instead of HTTPS)
A website that does not use a secure connection (HTTPS) may not be secure for transmitting personal data. HTTPS ensures that all data you send through the site is encrypted, including payment information, passwords, and other sensitive data. If a site uses only HTTP, it is a clear sign that the resource owners do not care about user security, and your data may be vulnerable to theft or interception.
What to look for:
- Lack of a lock icon in the address bar, which confirms the use of a secure protocol.
- HTTP protocol instead of HTTPS, which indicates an insecure connection and data privacy risks
5. Suspicious reviews and testimonials
Reviews are an important element in making a buying decision. They help you get the opinion of other buyers and evaluate the quality of a product or service. However, scammers often post fake positive reviews on their websites to create the appearance of trust and attract customers. Sometimes they use fake review generators or buy them from third-party platforms. Such reviews can not only be useless, but also misleading, creating a false sense of security.
What to look for:
- Reviews written in the same style or with the same phrases
- Unnaturally positive or identically structured reviews
- Problems with user authentication
6. Payment problems
Unreliable sites may offer strange or non-standard payment methods. While serious stores provide several proven and secure payment methods, fake sites often offer insecure methods such as transfers to personal accounts or purchase through unverified systems. This increases the risks of fraud, as your financial details could be used for illegal purposes and the goods never arrive.
What to look for:
- Offers to pay through questionable systems
- Lack of popular payment methods such as PayPal or credit cards
- Requests to send money directly to a bank account
7. Overly tempting bonuses and offers
If a website offers overly attractive offers such as “Free shipping on all products” or “90% off your first purchase,” be wary. Scammers use such tempting offers to lure customers and make a quick buck without providing the promised goods or services. Often such promotions hide hidden terms and conditions or unexpected extras that can greatly increase the final price.
What to look for:
- Terms too good for newcomers
- False promises of “free” goods or services
- Lack of real conditions for receiving a bonus
8. Lack of or poor customer support
A good online store always provides an effective customer support service so that customers can quickly resolve issues and get the information they need. A lack of a clear communication system or too limited ways of contacting support can indicate that the store has no intention of providing quality service, and can also be used to hide fraudulent activity.
What to look for:
- Lack of a phone number or chat with support
- Requests for personal data through undeservedly official channels
- Responding to requests after a long time or ignoring them completely
9. Failure to locate the returns policy
A responsible seller always provides clear and accessible information about returns. A return policy protects the interests of buyers by allowing them to return or exchange an item if it does not meet expectations. If a site doesn’t mention a return policy or does so very vaguely, it could be a sign that the seller has no intention of honoring the commitment and is avoiding responsibility for potential problems with the product.
What to look for:
- Lack of information about product returns
- Very complicated or limited return policy
- Terms and conditions that are highly prejudicial to the consumer’s rights
10. Websites with many spelling and grammatical errors
Websites with misspellings or misspelled words are often fake. Reputable companies always check their content thoroughly to avoid such mistakes, as a well-written website is a sign of seriousness and professionalism. Fraudsters, as a rule, do not spend time on proofreading, which makes such mistakes a clear signal of the unreliability of the resource.
What to look for:
- Frequent errors in text and images
- Content that does not conform to language standards
- Strange or ridiculous phrases that appear to be machine translated
