How to avoid online scammers and shop safely

Millions of Filipinos buy online every day without any problems. With a bit of common sense and knowledge, you can avoid problems with online shopping here in the Philippines

Common Online Shopping Risks

·         The item does not arrive even you have paid for it already.

·         The item delivered does not match the description in the website.

·         Delays and hassles with online purchases.

·         Poor after-sales service.

·         Credit/Debit card scams.

·         Meet up with strangers.

How to avoid these?

Deal with Reputable Merchants

·         Choose sellers that have good feedback ratings.

·         Look for evidence that the merchant is legit.

·         Don’t judge a person or company solely by their web site.

·         Be cautious especially if the merchant is from overseas.

·         Check web site’s privacy policy and returns policy.

·         Use safe payment options. If possible, look for escrow terms.

Check if the Website is Secure

·         Make sure you use a secure web site to enter credit card information. Look for a padlock symbol in the bottom right of the browser window and for the website address to begin with ‘https://’. 

·         If you get a warning about a certificate be very cautious indeed. However, the padlock is not an absolute guarantee of safety and it says nothing about the business’s ethics.

·         Click on the padlock to check that the seller is who they say they are and that their certificate is current and registered to the right address.

·         Don’t be fooled by a padlock that appears on the web page itself. It’s easy for conmen to copy the image of a padlock. You need to look for one that is in the window frame of the browser itself.

Beware of scammers

·         If it’s too good to be true, it’s probably a scam. Search for the deal in Google or Yahoo and check if it a scam or not.

·         Watch out for those “get rich quick” schemes by offering you very cheap merchandise.

·         Beware of work from home scams which promise easy profits but never pay.

·         Buy from reputable companies.

·         Never pay in advance unless the merchant is reputable and reachable.

·         If possible, find someone who had a successful transaction with them already.