Beware of Fake Shopping Websites
Fake shopping websites can look deceptively real and is a real threat to those who are unware. Read on to find out how to spot a fake shopping website and avoid being scammed.Â
Common Fake Shopping Website Scenarios
There is a considerable amount of online shopping websites on the internet. Some of them look so real that even the victims’ themselves were unaware that they have been scammed until it is too late. If you encounter any of the following scenarios, you have almost certainly fallen prey to an online shopping scam.
Fake shopping websites often do not even have any products to sell. Their sole aim is to steal money from unwary victims. The product images are often stolen from other websites or was produced with Artificial Intelligence (AI). Once you completed your payment, your purchased product will never reach you. Customer service will be totally unhelpful or unreachable. Worst still, the scammers now have your financial details, which they can use to commit other crimes.
In this scenario, you will receive your purchase but the item is either a severely low quality counterfeit or a totally different item altogether. You as the customer cannot claim you did not receive the product. Returning the product for a refund is usually not possible or will incur significant costs.
Closely related to Scenario 1 where the goal of the scammer is to obtain your financial details. These websites are often sent through social media platforms, suspicious emails or messages with an enticing offer. In order to access this offer, you are required to perform a registration or enter your financial details.
What you can do if you become a victim
If you realized shortly after the payment that you have been scammed, you should immediately notify the bank. If you have paid via your credit card, you can file a dispute.
The scammers more than likely will use your financial details to commit further crime. Therefore, you should block your credit cards and change your passwords for your online banking account. Public Bank has a Kill Switch feature that enables you to disable your PBe User ID, ATM/debit/credit cards and deposit account from a single access point.
For more information on online shopping scams and other online scams, please visit our online security microsite.
This information provided is purely for educational purposes.
1. https://www.getcybersafe.gc.ca/, Real examples of fake online stores
2. https://www.kaspersky.com/, Online shopping safety risks and how to protect yourself
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