Published on 12:00 AM, November 05, 2021

How to avoid fraudsters while shopping online

Illustration: Zarif Faiaz

People who are into online shopping because of its ostensive convenience, are acquainted with the feeling of waiting for the ordered package to arrive. Yet, when finally the long-awaited auspicious day comes, oftentimes, they have to pacify themselves with wrong parcels or sometimes even with damaged goods instead of the original products which were promised to them earlier. Unfortunately, there have been many incidents where the customers never even received the ordered items.

In this digital era of the internet, it has become easy for us to find almost everything on e-commerce marketplaces as they offer a wide collection of different products. However, many people have been defrauded while shopping online, became victims of numerous scams and lost their hard-earned money and especially, when people are already quite busy with their day to day lives dealing with such nuisance can be extremely troublesome and frustrating.

Therefore, here are some precautionary measures you can adopt to stay safe from online swindlers:

Check reviews

You should always critically read the feedback and reviews shared by the customers and learn from their remarks regarding the experiences of using the service and whether they found the service to be aptly satisfactory or not.

You should also try to stick to trusted and well-reputed online shops and avoid dubious e-shops because having an active sceptical mind on the internet can save you from the traps of scammers who are lurking behind the screen to cost you a great fortune.

Moreover, spare some time in checking the descriptions of the enlisted products to know about its specifications or features, qualities, authenticity, and overall pros and cons of the products as such effort can help you come to a conclusion about if the products meet your needs or not and if these are the products you were actually looking for.

Compare different sites

One of the most prominent advantages of online shopping is that you have the privilege of looking through multiple products within a short period of time. The 24/7 availability of stores lets you verify and find out the differences in charged prices for the same product across multiple e-shops. This can help you stay safe from knock-offs or duplicate products too.

Many shops frequently offer attractive exclusive discounts and occasional sales on products; hence, a little research can help you save some extra bucks. You can check for the best price for your desired products at different price comparison sites as well to save both your time and money.

Read the company's policies

Before placing your order, always go through the company's shipping, payment, refund and return policies to decide which one suits you the best. Furthermore, try to know if you can check the product during delivery to confirm that the correct product has been delivered to you and make yourself ascertain that your online transaction is processed through a secure site.

Lastly, it is wise to keep records of all the purchase-related receipts, vouchers or coupons, warranty documents and return and refund agreements sorted.

Although the risk of getting ripped-off remains, it is undeniable that online shopping has its fair share of perks and to make the most of this service, being cautious on your part can ensure a delightful online shopping experience.