Online shopping is booming. At the same time, the spread of fraudulent fake online shops. With some nasty surprises: the goods ordered are of poor quality or do not even arrive. You can identify secure online shops based on just a few characteristics.
24/7 shopping, convenient home delivery, and a wide range of products: the online shopping boom around the globe continues. But sometimes, there are nasty surprises: Fraudsters and cybercriminals are also using the growing online trade to spread fake shops. Often the ordered products are then of inferior quality or do not even arrive. It is usually sufficient to pay attention to a few features to recognize a reputable online shop. Should something go wrong, personal legal protection can help. If you want to know more about how to shop online securely, keep reading this article. In it, we’ll give you various tips on how to shop online and the main precautions you should take. Check out how to minimize your risk at shopping Online!
Six tips for safe online shopping
How do you distinguish a reputable from a dubious online shop? You should pay attention to these quality criteria when shopping on the Internet:
1. Check the online shop for essential features
Does the online shop have a complete imprint? Does the seller provide transparent terms and conditions and contact options? If not, special care is required! Also, keep an eye out for recognized seals of approval: Only safe online shops receive, for example, the “Trusted Shops” seal.
2. Beware of bargain traps
With sensationally low prices, special caution is required! Because even on the Internet, something is rarely given away. Comparing prices creates clarity here. Research the average retail price of your desired item and check it against the supposed special offer.
3. Beware of prepayment
If no other payment method is possible other than prepayment, your alarm bells should ring. Only order if you or your friends have already had good experiences with this online shop. Because nowadays, payment options such as credit cards or PayPal are mostly standard. The safest option is to pay after receipt of the invoice or to issue a direct debit authorization.
4. Check if the site has customer service channels
Like physical stores, virtual stores must also offer customer service channels. In the case of online stores, having this channel is essential. After all, it will be the only way to get in touch with the store in case of any problem or question, as there is no physical space to go to.
The service channels can be several, from a field on the website, email address, phone numbers, even service via WhatsApp.
The important thing is to have one or more ways to communicate with the store, as this conveys security and demonstrates the seriousness of the store.
5. Document the online purchase.
Keep all emails from the seller and documents (invoice, delivery note). In the best-case scenario, you should also take screenshots of the ordering process. So the case is sufficiently documented should something go wrong.
6. There is online fraud: what to do?
You do not receive the ordered goods at the agreed time, and the seller no longer reacts to attempts to contact you? Then there is the risk of having fallen for a fake online shop. If you have already paid in advance, the only way to get the money back through your bank or credit card company is good if you pay by credit card and have a direct debit authorization. If you used PayPal as a payment option, you could activate PayPal Buyer Protection. Doesn’t that help either? Then you can report the online fraud to any police station. Then it makes sense to contact your insurance company as soon as possible.
What are your methods of making the online purchase more secure? Let us know your practices in the comment section below!