We have all gone through that moment of happiness and excitement when an advertisement appears in front of our eyes, showing that product that we love so much with a super discount on some web page. Of course, after 5 seconds the fear of “What if they scam me? What if the product doesn’t come to my house?” appears.
In the middle of seasonal discount campaigns, offers via electronic commerce abound, the incidences of possible scams and fraud on the internet increase, which is why it is important to be very careful when making an online purchase.
Peace of mind above all, here are several tips to avoid being scammed on the internet.
1. Meet the person in charge of eCommerce:
Who is behind that sale? The first step is always to check where the company is from, the address, the expenses, and characteristics of the product or service, the transport, the payment method, etc. If it is not clear, or simply not all this information is available, you shouldn’t continue with the purchase, because it may be a scam.
2. Security certificate:
The second step is to check if the web page is safe, and this step is the easiest. This is one of the most important steps. At the time of payment, verify that the link of the page begins like this: “HTTPS://”. The letter S is essential, as it indicates that it is a secure website and that your data is being protected. Also, make sure that a padlock is displayed next to the HTTPS of the URL.
The electronic address must look like this: HTTPS:// in addition to a closed padlock appearing in the lower right or left of the browser. With a double click on the padlock, you can verify the security certificate of the website where you want to buy something.
3. Protect your data:
Do not give out unnecessary or sensitive data! Experts warn that a user does not have to fill out a form or survey under any circumstances. It is also necessary to read on the website what use will be given to personal data.
4. Evaluate the reputation of the company or seller:
The next step is to check the online reputation of the company or seller. You have to search for all possible comments and scores on the internet. On all social networks: Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, and the most important of all: Google. It is essential to know what people say.
YouTube reviews can be one of the best benchmarks to make sure that deliveries are made properly and that the product is the same as in the images that show it.
5. Evaluate the product warranty:
All products or services purchased online must be protected by guarantees, in the same way as in a physical store. The process is to receive the product and verify that it is in good condition. If this is not the case, the return can be made indicating the reason. This should be visible clearly in writing and with the company’s address, accompanied by the guarantee and invoice, to validate the claim.
6. Calculate delivery days:
Usually, the maximum number of business days for delivery is 30 days. And the user has the right to cancel the product, the seller has to make the return of the payments in 14 business days.
In addition, as in any type of purchase, when there is a problem, the first action is to try to solve it with the person in charge of it.
7. Have an exclusive card for this type of purchase:
And another crucial point in the list, this is the best advice. If you are going to buy online regularly, it is much better that you have a different card to buy online. This way you put the right money and avoid some kind of theft.
8. Check the movement of your card daily until a week later:
To avoid being a victim of fraud or cloning, check your bank transactions every day after the purchase. In most cases of fraud, the victims find out up to a week later. Checking your bank account and statements regularly is a good practice in general.
9. Do not connect to Public WIFI:
Try, as often as possible, to buy from your own home. If you do it from outside, do not do it connecting via public Wi-Fi networks. Entering credit card numbers by these means can be dangerous. If you have to connect to public networks, use a VPN. That will add a layer of protection to your internet surfing.
10. Review and verify terms and conditions:
Read the small print about the company’s policies for product changes, surcharges, payment alternatives, and delivery times, among others. Investigate the brand’s delivery promise so that false expectations are not generated. This way you will avoid making a bad purchase or being scammed.
11. Avoid buying after clicking on an email:
Discard the emails that request updating your data (banks do not ask to confirm keys or passwords through emails). Do not download attachments from unknown senders. We recommend checking who unsolicited senders are on Nuwber. There, you can check whether or not that sender is genuine.
12. Entering the resource directly:
In general, the participating companies communicate their offers through digital advertising. To be certain that the offer is true, in addition to clicking on the advertisements, go directly to the brand’s website and social networks to verify its veracity.
Conclusions:
There are frauds on the internet, but there are also reliable companies or sellers that make you able to make that purchase that you want so much. The only thing you have to do is do some research before starting the purchase process and not use public Wi-Fi networks, as you could expose yourself to hacking.
The internet can be very useful but it can also compromise our data, be careful and follow these tips so you can take advantage of the Black Friday deals.