Be safe when shopping online – Sebenza SAPS
The Sebenza SAPS spokesperson, Sergeant Sharon Mahamba - Tsotsotso urged people to be vigilant when shopping online because there are always con artists who lie in wait.
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The internet has become an essential part of many people’s daily lives and many companies have made it possible for the consumers to do shopping in the comfort of their homes.
However, with every good thing there is always a bad side that comes with it.
The Sebenza SAPS spokesperson, Sergeant Sharon Mahamba – Tsotsotso urged people to be vigilant when shopping online because there are always con artists who lie in wait.
“As we approach the festive season, people will be shopping online for various items such as gifts and other Christmas goodies. People must always use familiar websites when shopping online. If you know the site, chances are it is less likely to be a fake site,” said Sgt Tsotsotso.
Tips for online safe holiday shopping
She also urged people to not pay for items before they see them because some people advertise items that don’t exist.
“Some people advertise items on websites and request payment but when the client wants to collect the goods they find that the address given is fake or it belongs to someone else. It is not easy for banks to trace those people because they usually use fake documents to open those accounts,” she said.
It is important to verify the website before doing online shopping. Make sure that the website you use offers secure shopping.
This will protect your personal and credit card details. The best way to check if a website is secure is by the URL. A secure website starts with HTTPS:// instead of https://.
Pay attention to the spelling of websites and addresses that seem to be real websites because these may be close imitations of the actual website. Check the website and make sure that you are on the right website.