6 Tips To Avoid Scams When Buying Online

The online claims platform has prepared a list of basic “tips” to learn how to detect a fraudulent website.

Confinement promoted telework, tele-study, online shopping, and, in general, the digitization of all the processes that surround us. The cyber-world offers endless possibilities, but it also carries endless risks. Online crime hides behind fraudulent offers and suspicious data requests.

Beyond the big attacks on public organizations and companies, the criminals in the network are also looking for easy prey. Their crude traps are easy to spot, although rush or inattention can sometimes play tricks on them. So that any buyer can avoid online scams, The online claims platform has prepared a list of six basic tips to learn how to detect a fraudulent website.

1. The web address

The first step and perhaps the most obvious one is to check the address of the web page (URL). This must-have “HTTPS ” at the beginning of the address -the “s” is the security (security) -. Failing that, a padlock must appear that certifies that it is a secure website. If this padlock does not appear, the beginning of the URL is missing the final “s” (HTTP) or they ask for bank details, be suspicious. Regarding the URL, Reclamador.es also advises paying attention to its content. You should avoid those whose URL name has little or nothing to do with the content of the rest of the web.

2. Bad spelling and translation

The claims website also advises to distrust those websites that should be in Spanish but appear in another language, that contain spelling errors or are poorly translated. “The foregoing may give us to understand that it is an impersonation of another website or a page created for fraudulent purposes,” warns Reclamador.es.

3. What other users think

Even though there are criminals on the network waiting for their opportunity to make cash, there are also users willing to report them and alert other buyers. A simple way to clarify your doubts if you distrust a website is to seek opinions from other Internet users who have made purchases online. If you find little information in search engines it is a bad sign.

4. Contact by email or phone

As the saying goes, talking means people. If you suspect that the web page where you intend to buy could be fraudulent, you can go to your contact page and send an email or call to “put an end to that uncertainty and make the decision to buy or not on that portal”, advises the platform. “ If you lack contact information or offer only a contact form, it may be indicative of a fraudulent website” Warns Reclamador.es. Another circumstance that may make you suspicious is the email address from which the sent message is contacted or, likewise, how that email is written. In addition, if this circumstance occurs and any of the above (suspicious web address or absence of reviews from other users) the safest option will be to leave that page and look for the product you want in another.

5. Prices too attractive to be true

“If a smartphone that in any other store, physical or online, sells, for example, around 900 euros and on that website they offer it to 50 euros, be suspicious,” warns the claims platform. Prices may indeed vary from one store to another and that attractive offers are sometimes launched. However, the huge differences should make you cautious when buying on the Internet.

6. Company information

“The pages that sell through the Internet must inform about the company that is behind that online store. Also if it is a natural person who sells online ”, points out Reclamador.es. Carrying out this check is very simple since the information must be available in the privacy policy section of the web. It may also appear in the legal notice or in the sections of “know us” or “who we are”.

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