Safe online shopping - rules
Is online shopping safe? Yes and no. Yes, if you are aware of what should make you suspicious when shopping online and you react immediately. Definitely not, if you act quickly and without thinking. Then you can unknowingly get caught by fraudsters. Especially since they are getting smarter today. Check out how to shop safely online .
Online shopping – a breeding ground for cybercriminals
The popularity of online shopping has skyrocketed, primarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic and high inflation. The pandemic has kept people at home, and inflation is forcing people to save and use price comparison sites more often to buy at the lowest possible price. Many transactions have been moved to online stores, so this field has become an ideal area for fraudsters. Today, more than ever, it is worth knowing how to protect yourself online .
According to CERT ( Computer Emergency Response Team ), a team responding to computer security incidents - In 2021, the number of frauds on popular shopping portals such as Vinted, Allegro and OLX increased fivefold (compared to 2020) . In 2022, the number of frauds has already increased sevenfold . The number of fictitious stores and goods is also growing. In the Sapsan store , we also notice a general increase in interest in the issue of online security, not only by individuals, but also by large companies. The popularity of cybersecurity equipment is definitely greater than a few years ago. Despite everything, many people are still unaware of the threats that lurk on the web; they also do not know whatphishing and skimming are. In this article, you will learn the most important rules that will help you know how to shop safely on the Internet .
Online shopping security – what does it depend on?
What makes online shopping safe ? Below are 7 important tips to ensure your online shopping is safe . Read them carefully.
What should you pay particular attention to when shopping online?
- The path to reaching an online store. If someone sent you a link on Messenger or another messenger or you received information about a promotion via email, this is the first sign to increase your own vigilance. Why? Because these are the most common ways that cybercriminals use to reach potential victims.
- Any appearance of an online store. Pay attention to how the website you intend to shop on looks. Do you notice a lot of spelling mistakes, broken Polish? Are the graphics and photos falling apart or of questionable quality? Be careful, because this may mean that someone has put this website together quickly and is intended to be used for fraud.
- Too wide a range. When you see that someone is selling the proverbial soap and jam and the offer includes, for example, interior design elements, but also cosmetics or tools - it is better not to make purchases there.
- Dangerous search results. Don't trust Uncle Google blindly. Remember that fake stores also list themselves in the results. So when you type in, for example, the phrase "laptop bag" , among the trustworthy sites you can also find a trap, so be vigilant.
- Inconsistent regulations. Click through the regulations of the store where you are shopping. Look at the privacy policy, complaint or return policy. If you notice any discrepancies, different names or addresses, or something that suggests that the regulations are copied from other stores, withdraw from shopping online there.
- No KRS or activity unrelated to trade. Make it a habit to check the seller's data, especially if you have never heard of the store or have not shopped there before. Sometimes scammers pretend to be an existing brick-and-mortar store that does not have an online store or take over an unused domain.
- Questionable contact with the seller. If your attempts to contact them directly by email or phone remain unanswered or the person you managed to contact does not know the answer to your questions or gets irritated, do not make online purchases from this store.
How to shop safely online ?
In addition to the above tips, the knowledge of which will certainly increase your security when shopping online , it is also worth knowing that:
- a padlock next to a website address is no longer a guarantee of security , as cybercriminals already know how to use this type of marking to their advantage;
- Scammers often take advantage of an easy-to-miss typo in a website name to extort money or data;
- positive opinions of alleged store customers may be fabricated by fraudsters ;
- you should not ignore signals from your antivirus program or the browser itself that displays a message that the site is dangerous;
- attractive promotions, unique opportunities that will never be repeated are often intended to put pressure on you and persuade you to act faster. Be careful with all these extra discounts, especially during the pre-holiday shopping rush.
We hope that these tips will make your online shopping safer and that every day you will be more aware of how to shop safely online . If you have any questions, please contact us. We are here for you.