Advanced strategies for safeguarding your online shopping

Online shopping has become a staple of modern life. It’s convenient, offers a vast selection and often provides great deals, however, the digital marketplace also attracts scammers who are constantly devising new ways to trick unsuspecting shoppers.

While you might be familiar with spotting fake websites and avoiding phishing emails, there’s a whole other world of online shopping scams you need to be aware of. Let’s take a look at these lesser-known threats so you can shop with confidence and peace of mind.

Counterfeit products and grey market goods

We all love a good bargain whether it’s snagging a great price on a designer handbag or grabbing a discounted gadget, but sometimes, a price that seems too good to be true often is. This is especially true when it comes to counterfeit products. These are fake replicas of genuine items, often sold at significantly lower prices. Think fake designer handbags, electronics or even medications. While the low price might be tempting, buying counterfeit goods comes with serious risks – shoddy quality, potential safety hazards (like faulty electronics) and worst of all, you’re supporting illegal activities.

Then there are grey market goods. These are genuine products sold outside authorised distribution channels, like a camera originally meant for a foreign market now sold on a local platform. While they’re not fake, they can still present issues. You might not receive a manufacturer’s warranty, the product might have different regional specifications, such as voltage for electronics or there might be issues with software updates.

How to spot them:

• Unbelievably low prices: if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.
• Poor packaging: look for inconsistencies in branding, spelling errors or low-quality materials.
• Lack of official documentation: genuine products usually come with manuals, warranties or certificates of authenticity.
• Unusual selling channels: be wary of buying branded goods from unauthorised sellers or online marketplaces with poor reputations.

Auction and marketplace scams

Online auction and marketplace platforms are great for finding unique items and deals, however, they also attract scammers who prey on unsuspecting buyers and sellers. Here are a few common scams to watch out for:

• Bait-and-switch: a seller lists a desirable item at an attractive price to lure buyers. Once you’ve made a purchase, they send you a cheaper, inferior substitute.
• Overpayment scams: a buyer sends a payment that’s more than the agreed price and asks you to refund the extra amount. The trick? Their original payment is fake.
• Non-delivery scams: you pay for an item, but it never arrives. To make matters worse, the seller disappears, leaving you with nothing.

How to protect yourself:

• Look for sellers with a long history of positive feedback.
• Stick to established payment platforms offered by the marketplace and avoid direct bank transfers or sending cash.
• If a deal seems too good to be true, exercise caution.
• Keep all communication within the platform’s messaging system, since this provides a record of your interactions.

Social media shopping scams

Social media is increasingly becoming a shopping destination, but it’s also a breeding ground for scams. Be extra careful of fake promotions and giveaways, which involve scammers who create fake accounts or pages impersonating legitimate brands, promoting non-existent deals or giveaways to collect your personal information or payment details. Another scam is direct-to-consumer. With these, scammers create fake online stores promoted through social media ads, often selling counterfeit or non-existent products. These “stores” often disappear shortly after taking your money.

How to stay safe:

• Verify the legitimacy of the seller: check for things like a verified badge (if available) and look for consistent branding across their social media presence and website.
• Be cautious of unsolicited offers: don’t click on links or engage with accounts that send you unsolicited messages about deals or giveaways.
• Check reviews and comments: see what other users are saying about the seller or product and, of course, be wary of accounts that seem too good to be true.

Delivery and package interception scams

Even after you’ve made a legitimate purchase, scammers might try to intercept your package or trick you with fake delivery notifications. Two popular strategies are:

• “Missed delivery” scams: you receive a fake email or text message claiming you missed a delivery. The message includes a link to “reschedule” or “pay a redelivery fee”, however this link leads to a phishing website designed to steal your personal information.
• Package theft: while not strictly a scam, it’s a related issue. So called front yard pirates can steal your packages right off your doorstep.

How to safeguard your deliveries:

• Verify delivery notifications by checking the official carrier’s website or app, not a link in a suspicious email.
• Opt for secure delivery options like lockers, signature-on-delivery or picking up from a store.
• If you haven’t already done so, install a security camera or use a smart doorbell to deter theft.

Refund and return scams

When something doesn’t work out with your order, getting a refund or making a return should be straightforward. But did you know that even the return process can be targeted by scammers? For instance, they might contact you pretending to be customer service, offering a refund for a purchase you didn’t make. They’ll ask for your bank details to “process” the refund, which they’ll then use to steal your money. Alternatively, you return an item to a seller, but they provide a fake return address, which prevents you from receiving your refund.

How to handle refunds and returns safely:

• Contact the seller directly: initiate returns through the official channels provided by the retailer.
• Keep records of transactions: save your order confirmations, shipping information and any communication with the seller.

And of course, if something feels off, get in touch with your payment provider or the marketplace’s customer support.

Online shopping should be fun, convenient and safe. With a bit of knowledge, a dash of caution and a willingness to trust your instincts, you can continue to enjoy great online deals without falling for anyone’s tricks.

Take a look at how you can avoid some of the most common online shopping scams and here is a guide on phishing, malware and viruses.