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Avoiding Online Shopping and Delivery Scams

Online shopping is a fixture in today’s economy. Thanks to advances in technology and logistics, people can order items over the Internet and receive their shipments in a matter of days. On top of that, social media and search engines empower us to find a greater variety of goods and merchants than ever before.

Unfortunately, these modern conveniences are also tools used by fraudsters. As a result, it’s necessary to be a smart shopper to prevent identity theft and fraud.

Let’s discuss online shopping and delivery fraud, and what you can do to protect your financial information.

What Scammers Want From You

The most significant item that a cybercriminal can ever steal from you is information. That is, the data that can identify you and provide access to your property and finances. These items include:

  • Your name and address
  • Social Security number
  • Bank account information
  • Credit card or billing information

Scammers use different tactics to access a potential victim’s information. These tactics may include:

  • Impersonating authority or representatives of an organization
  • Pitching a problem or prize to entice prospects
  • Pressuring someone to act quickly
  • Demanding specific payment methods

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau discusses a few scenarios featuring tactics scammers are most likely to use. You may check them out in this article.

Common Online Shopping Scams

In an online shopping or delivery scam, fraudsters aim to impersonate real businesses to trick people into divulging information or sending money. Many online sellers and retailers are legitimate. Unfortunately, thieves often use the anonymous nature of the Internet to fool shoppers.

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services notes that online scammers can operate through two distinct channels. They include:

Posing as a legitimate business. A scammer (or cybercriminal ring) can set up fake websites that appear as actual businesses. They can also buy ad space on popular search engines so that their site appears near the top of results and entice unsuspecting shoppers. Their URL may also be spelled in a way that impersonates a well-known brand or corporation.

When someone visits this spoofed site, they may see innovative site layouts and images of products that appear like the real deal. When someone places an order on the site, however, they may receive a knockoff product. In other cases, they may never receive their order at all. In both of these scenarios, the scammer will have made out with two things: someone’s money and payment information.

Using social media. Scammers can buy ad space on places like X, Instagram, and Facebook to promote their wares and the fake sites that sell them. They may even use technologies like generative AI to create images and videos of their supposed products in action.

After these ads get enough attention and generate sales, they may disappear without a trace. Additionally, people who order through these sites may receive a knockoff product or nothing at all. On top of that, any communications requesting support may be ignored or routed to a dummy address.

If an online ad or search result takes you to an unfamiliar site, it is a good idea to exhibit healthy skepticism before committing to anything.

You can counteract online shopping scams by:

  • Verifying the URL of a business
  • Checking if the website has a valid security certificate
  • Looking up the existence of customer reviews and their ratings
  • Comparing prices of similar products and checking if the deal is “too good to be true”

Keep an Eye on Your Messages and Inbox, Too

Another thing to watch is your email, texts, and DMs on social media. Scammers may pose as retailers or delivery companies to steal your information through these channels.

These types of imposter scams will send a message claiming that there is a problem with your order, and you must take action to avoid any delays or upcharges.

Remember that no legitimate business will contact you asking for account credentials or payment information outright. You may be falling for a phishing scam if the contents of the message:

  • Links to a website that asks for login credentials or payment information
  • Demand that you take action immediately to avoid an unwanted outcome
  • Direct you to pay with cryptocurrency, wire transfer service, or payment app

The Better Business Bureau has also advised consumers about scams related to international ordering and shipping. Scammers may cite shipping delays to try to trick others into paying more money or using an alternate payment method.

You can avoid ordering and shipping scams by:

  • Paying only by credit card and using its fraud protection measures
  • Scrutinizing potential spoofs or false information
  • Keeping tabs on your online orders to better spot fake order notifications
While online shopping can be fun, it’s always a good idea to play it SAFE. Visit our Scam and Fraud Education page to learn more about scams and what you can do to protect your financial information.

NEW PAGE CURRENTLY BEING DEVELOPED

A new streamlined FFIS page will be launched soon.

In the meantime, to access your accounts, visit

https://myaccountviewonline.com/login/

or call (800) 766-4328, x8806.