Online Shopping Scams
Beware of scams and always remember
Stop
Don’t act straight away. Stop and think about what you’re being asked to do.
Real companies or government agencies won’t pressure you to make payments.
Check
Have a quick look on Google to see if the company or person is real and whether it's the right phone number.
Check to see if anyone else has had similar experiences.
Protect
If something feels wrong, act quickly.
Contact your bank immediately if you notice unusual activity or if a scammer gets your money or information.
How to identify a scam
As online shopping increases, scammers try to take advantage of those who shop online. These can be anywhere on the internet but are especially found on classified sites, social media, online marketplaces, emails and more.
If it looks too good to be true, it usually is.
Protect yourself by:
Checking out the seller’s profile.
Google search the topic or seller name to see if there are any negative reviews.
If you believe the seller is real, use a payment method like PayPal that has inbuilt buyer protection for online sales.
As always, you should pause, review and ask a friend or family member if you’re unsure whether the sale is real.