Online shopping safety tips to protect you this festive season
Be smart when shopping online this festive season.
Oh no, Christmas is around the corner and that present you were saving up to buy for whoever isn’t available anymore, whatever will you do now.
Casually, a sales assistant approaches you and informs that the gift is still available online and you even get free delivery nationwide.
But, is online shopping safe you ask.
It will be, just read the information below and protect yourself from fraudsters this festive season.
The shopping industry has opened itself up to buyers in the most convenient way imaginable.
We can now buy whatever it is we like online just by entering our credit or debit card details.
With that convenience, we as online shoppers have also opened ourselves up to all sorts of criminals.
Is the site I want to buy this gift from legitimate, because it has no business address listed and no authentic looking email address or contact details.
See, the thing is, I know what to look out for, but do you?
Lots of official company websites are being copied lately and even by searching for a reputable online shopping platform, you could end up on a fake website.
The key here is to check out the website domain name – easily found in your search bar.
For example, website domains like www.bythoseshoes.org should send you running.
Why, you ask
The ‘.org’ part gave it away. Stick with (if you are buying in South Africa) ‘.co.za’
Oh my goodness, this site has the same gift for next to nothing.
I’m a cheapskate – sue me.
Which brings us to the next point. Be extremely cautious when products are marked at a super low cost.
Chances are, if it looks too good to be true, it most likely is.
Fake websites generally use low prices to reel in penny-counting shoppers in order to pinch your hard earned ZAR.
Don’t pay by EFT (electronic transfer) – ever.
Any legitimate online shopping platform offers payment options through popular methods such as ‘MyGate’ in which you enter details such as your card number, the expiry date, your name and surname and CVV Number.
Upon completing the details, processing will take place in which your bank should send you an OTP (one-time pin).
Check out the rest of the website before buying what you came for.
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You’d want to keep an eye out for suspicious looking contact details, addresses etc.
Websites with no contact details could be fraudulent.
Poor English is sometimes also a dead giveaway.
If all these concerns are present, you should consider the website to be dodgy.
Oh great, they couriered the wrong gift, better return it and have them send the correct present.
What!?!?
‘No return policy’ – don’t use a site that does not display or have shipping and return policies on its website – legitimate online companies have a return address.
Other methods you can use to protect yourself from being ‘robbed’ would include running the latest version of whichever internet browser you are using and ensuring that your anti-virus is up-to-date.
Most anti-virus programs now-a-days include an online protection service which is really great at pointing out dodgy websites.
Don’t fall victim to online scams or fraudulent websites.
If you have an internet connection, you can educate yourself on online safety.
Ignorance is no longer an excuse.
Have a story?
Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor)Â germistoncitynews@caxton.co.zaor Leigh Hodgson (journalist)Â leighh@caxton.co.za.Â
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