Whenever you do online shopping, make sure you follow these steps..
1. Unsecured Websites: Look for "https://" and a padlock symbol in the URL.
2. Too-Good-to-Be-True Deals: Extremely low prices can indicate counterfeit or non-existent products.
3. Poor Website Design: Bad grammar, low-quality images, and unprofessional layouts can signal a scam site.
4. Lack of Contact Information: Legitimate sites usually provide clear contact details, including a phone number and physical address.
5. Suspicious Payment Methods: Be wary if a site only accepts untraceable payment methods like wire transfers or cryptocurrencies.
6. Negative or No Reviews: Check for reviews on external sites; a lack of reviews or many negative ones are red flags.
7. Urgency and Pressure Tactics: Scammers often create a false sense of urgency to rush your decision.
8. Inconsistent Branding: Mismatched logos, brand names, or domain names can indicate a fake site.
By staying alert to these signs, you can reduce the risk of falling victim to online shopping scams.