Online Shopping Fraud Is on the Rise
The convenience of online shopping comes with real risks. Fraudulent websites, fake marketplace listings, and deceptive social media ads have become more convincing and widespread. Knowing what to look for before you enter your payment details could save you significant money and hassle.
Red Flags on Unfamiliar Websites
Prices That Seem Too Good to Be True
If a website is selling brand-name electronics, clothing, or goods at 60–80% below typical retail prices, treat it as a major warning sign. Legitimate discounts exist, but they're rarely that dramatic. Scam sites often lure shoppers with unrealistically low prices and then either deliver counterfeit products, ship nothing at all, or steal your payment information.
No Secure Connection (No HTTPS)
Check the address bar of your browser. Any legitimate shopping website should begin with https:// and display a padlock icon. HTTP (without the "S") means your connection is not encrypted — never enter payment or personal details on such a site.
No Physical Address or Contact Information
A trustworthy online retailer will list a verifiable physical address, a phone number, and a working customer service email. If a website only offers a web form with no other contact details, be cautious. Try searching the address they provide to confirm it's real.
Poor Grammar and Spelling
Many scam sites are built quickly and operated from overseas. Noticeable spelling errors, awkward phrasing, and inconsistent formatting throughout the site are common telltale signs of a fraudulent operation.
Very Recent Domain Registration
You can check when a website's domain was registered using a free WHOIS lookup tool (search "WHOIS lookup" in any search engine). A site that was registered within the last few weeks or months, but claims to be an established retailer, is a major red flag.
Red Flags on Marketplace Listings
- Seller with no history or reviews: On platforms like eBay, Amazon, or Facebook Marketplace, check the seller's rating and how long they've been active.
- Requests to pay outside the platform: Any seller who asks you to pay via wire transfer, gift cards, or cryptocurrency should be avoided. These methods offer no buyer protection.
- Stock photos used as product images: A legitimate private seller will have real photos of the actual item. Generic stock imagery is a sign the seller doesn't have the product.
- Pressure to decide quickly: "Only 1 left — buy now!" or "Offer expires in 10 minutes" tactics are designed to prevent you from doing due diligence.
How to Verify a Website Before You Buy
- Search the store name + "reviews" or "scam": Other shoppers may have already reported issues. Look for reviews on independent platforms, not just the website itself.
- Check the Better Business Bureau (BBB): Search for the business at bbb.org to see complaints and ratings.
- Use Google's Safe Browsing check: Google maintains a database of unsafe websites. You can check a URL at transparencyreport.google.com/safe-browsing/search.
- Look up the return and refund policy: Scam sites often have no policy, a vague one, or one that's clearly copied from another site with placeholder text still visible.
What to Do If You've Been Scammed
If you believe you've made a purchase from a fraudulent site:
- Contact your bank or credit card company immediately to dispute the charge.
- Report the site to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
- Report it to your state's consumer protection office.
- If you paid via a platform like PayPal, open a buyer dispute through their resolution center.
Staying vigilant only takes a few extra minutes — and those few minutes can be the difference between a great deal and a costly lesson.