If online sales and purchases were already a trend, in the quarantine the movement only increased. A survey by BigData Corp revealed that the number of virtual stores grew 40.7% between 2019 and 2020.
If, on the one hand, this is good for the consumer due to the greater diversity and ease of finding everything on the internet, on the other, the attention to scams and fraud must be doubled.
In today’s column, I will talk about 8 tips for buying safely online.
1. Prefer To Known Sites
The first suggestion may seem obvious, but the chance of not receiving the product or having data leaked on the websites of major retailers is less. Still, I know that sometimes the offer may be better elsewhere. Even because almost 89% of sales sites are small (receive up to 10,000 visits per month), according to the same survey.
2. Check Security Seals And Https
The padlock and the “s” in the address bar ensures that the website, whether small or large, is secure and encrypted (encrypted), which reduces the chance of information leaking.
3. Pay Attention To Offers By Email
It is very easy for scammers to reach email lists that include yours. When opening an e-mail from a retailer, be it a known store or not, pay attention to the shipping address (usually not the address of the retail brand).
Also note if there are any Portuguese errors and the link to which it takes you. Always check that it is the correct store address.
4. Use Complex And Unique Passwords
It is tiring to have to think about new passwords, but it is the safest way to register. If you use the same password on several sites it is easier to leak and reach scammers. This means, for example, running away from passwords that are your name, date of birth or even numeric strings. In 2019, according to a SplashData survey of 5 million registrations, the most common passwords were: 123456 and 123456789.
5. Order Through A Secure Connection
Using public and shared networks can cause scammers to get your personal data. Shop patiently at home.
6. Check The Social Networks
In addition I acquired the habit of looking at the company’s Instagram. There, you can see people’s comments, whether the profiles appear to be true and whether the company responds and interacts.
I also suggest putting the name of the company on Youtube, as more and more people are making complaints public there.
7. Pay By Credit Card Or Digital Means
Unlike the payment slip that you cannot cancel, it is possible to request a refund on your credit card. The same goes for digital alternatives, like PayPal.
8. Be Wary Of Miraculous Offers
Finally, and not least, be wary if the price is far below market prices. When alms are too much, always be suspicious.
