Shopping online – tips and tricks to keep you safe
When shopping online it can be easy to be sucked into great deals, especially when they’re prefaced with the phrase “limited time only”.
Before rushing to grab your credit card though, make sure you carefully consider the purchases you’re making. This’ll not only help you stick to a budget, but can save you from falling victim to online scams.
Our Money Advisor, Stuart Dearden said: “If the price or the deal is too good to be true, then chances are it probably is.”
This is particularly relevant when shopping on second-hand sites such as eBay or Facebook Marketplace.
Shopping online – top tips
Whilst not everybody selling via these sites is a potential scammer, here are some things for you to look out for:
1. Are they asking you to send the money via bank transfer?
Paying for an item before seeing it isn’t an uncommon practice. But paying through PayPal Goods and Services will protect you should it turn out to be a scam.
2. What’s their feedback like from previous customers?
On eBay, customers can leave feedback, whether positive or negative, for a seller. This is always worth checking before purchasing an item from them.
3. Does the price seem too cheap?
You won’t be able to get a brand new PlayStation 5 for £250, when they retail at £500. Ask yourself if it seems to good to be true – before paying for it!
Counterfeit goods
Counterfeit goods are also still a big problem, and Stuart added: “While they may be cheap, such items are often substandard, potentially dangerous and seriously damage the business of the genuine brand.”
If you think you’ve purchased a counterfeit item, you should report it to your local Trading Standards office, by calling the Citizen’s Advice Consumer Helpline on 0808 223 1133 or using their online enquiry form.
Remember, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.