“When stores lower their prices, the risk of fake online stores increases, where you risk having your card details and other personal information stolen,” the police write in a message on their website, and urge the public to be especially vigilant when shopping online in the weeks leading up to Christmas. One tip is to look for typos, something serious websites rarely have.
Björn Appelgren, public education manager at the Internet Foundation, agrees with the police’s warning.
– Christmas is approaching and many people shop online. Fraudsters know this and try to exploit it. Partly through false advertisements, but also through scam emails and scam text messages about package deliveries, he says.
– The fraudsters are very good at adapting to our behavior and what is happening in the outside world, he adds.
If an offer seems too good to be true, it often is.
– One should react to whether it is a very, very fantastic offer, says Björn Appelgren.
Avoid links in text messages and emails
Another approach among the scammers is fake emails and text messages about package deliveries. Often you are asked to click on a link to pay a small customs or depot fee. What the scammers are really after is your card details.
– It can be difficult to see through the scams. I think you should avoid clicking on ads and links in text messages and emails, says Björn Appelgren.
Instead, you should be able to search on your own via a search engine for the company in question to see if the offer is also available on the website. If the offer on the website matches the one in the text message or email, then it is also likely to be genuine.
In the same way, he suggests using the delivery company’s apps to track your shipment and thus avoid being blown away.
In addition to your bank details being hacked, there is also the risk that the item you sent for does not turn up. Or that you get a cheap copy of it.
– There are advertisements that entice with cheap prices for expensive goods, but what you often get then is a cheap copy – so you don’t get what you think you bought, says Björn Appelgren.
How to spot fake online stores
Fake online stores can be difficult to recognize, as they often look very genuine. Consider this when shopping online:
Check the URL. Fraudsters often try to make the URL as similar to the real online store as possible. Sometimes it can be just one letter that makes the difference. Be extra careful if you end up on a website via an ad on social media.
Check for typos. Serious web pages rarely have typos.
Search for reviews. Check what others are saying about the store before you shop and decide how reasonable the offer seems.
Check contact details and payment options. Are there clear contact details and do the payment options feel secure?
Pay by invoice. It is safer than paying by card, because you do not have to give out your card number and you receive the goods before you pay.
Source: Polisen.se