As we approach the end of the year, shoppers may be looking out for Black Friday sales or finishing up on their Christmas shopping hunting for deals.
We share some concerns you may need to watch out for.
E-mail scams and text messages for online shopping
Scammers can target victims by sending emails with offers for different websites and products, they may try and lure you in with a bargain.
These scams will more than likely be occupied by a link regarding said bargain. Before you click the link, you should check the website through google to check whether this is legit.
Links for popular brands
A common tactic can involve a scammer sending a link via e-mail or text to a fake website for you to buy an item. The buyer might spend the money on purchasing an item but never actually receiving it. The scammer might also take more money than expected – depending on the method of payment. If the payment they insist on is bank transfer, this may well be a scam.
To avoid these scams, ensure you are only buying from genuine websites. You can search the website on google to find the real page and compare it to the one you have received via link.
You may also want to browse the website you have been taken to via the link, visit the homepage and ‘about us’ page. Look out for bad grammar and spelling mistakes.
Legitimate companies will always list ways to get in touch with them, for example, if the website doesn’t have a ‘contact us’ page, it is most likely fraudulent.
Too good to be true
If the offer seems too good to be true, then it probably is. Extremely low prices or discounts should be treated as suspicious. Scam websites use very low prices to attract bargain hunters.
If you see a deal that seems too good to be true, make sure you do all the checks to ensure the website is legit.
Check the website
If you have landed on a website, whether that is through an e-mail, through social media or online, before you spend any money, browse the website thoroughly.
Scammers can mimic a brand’s website, and trick consumers. Check for spelling errors and mistakes. If you are concerned, search for the website in a separate browser, and see if you can find the same deal or if the website looks identical. If it differs slightly, it may be a scam.
Never bank transfer
If you are asked to pay online via bank transfer, it should be a concern. If you end up buying something that turns out to be fake or non-existent with a credit or debit card, you have some rights to get your money back. But if you pay by bank transfer, this can become difficult.
If you feel you have been a victim of an online shopping scam, make sure to report this to the police and to your bank.
Further reading
Bank fraud and scam claims – Oakwood Solicitors
Romance scams – Oakwood Solicitors
Text message scams – Oakwood Solicitors
Online shopping fraud – Action fraud
WHAT TO DO NEXT
Get in touch today for a no-obligation consultation. Choose one of the methods on the right-hand side of this page, or call us on 0113 200 9720 to find out how we can help you.
Katie Whapham is currently working as a legal assistant in the Finance Litigation Department. Initially, Katie was part of the administration and new enquiries team when she joined Oakwood Solicitors …
Romance Scams – What are they?
Romance scams usually begin on dating apps or social media sites. Scammers use these online profiles to create fake identities or impersonate real celebrities to get close to their targets.
…
View
Text Message Scams
What are text message scams?
These are fraudulent messages that try to trick you into giving money or personal information.
…
View
