Shopping for the real deal

Have you ever purchased an item online only to discover it was not as advertised? Then, when trying to return the item, you found that you could not receive a refund?

In recent years, online shopping has become a popular method of purchasing items. It’s quick, convenient and easily allows consumers to compare prices across multiple companies and websites. However, often the companies with the cheapest prices are scammers selling fraudulent items. Once a purchase is made on the site, scammers also have access to your personal and financial information.

According to the Better Business Bureau’s (BBB) recent Military Research Report, online shopping scams remain the riskiest scam for Veterans, with 77.3% of reports confirmed losing money when targeted by this scam. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and AARP’s Fraud Watch Network also note that online shopping scams are among their top reported for all consumers as well. Although these scams are difficult to spot, there are steps you can take to protect yourself and loved ones.

What to look out for

Online shopping scams can be highly deceptive and difficult to spot. It’s important to understand how these scams work in order to avoid them:

• Too-good-to-be-true prices: Some online scammers exploit trending products by offering counterfeit versions at drastically reduced prices. These imitation items are frequently poorly made and can be challenging to return after purchase.
• Undelivered items: After purchasing an item online, some scammers claim the item was shipped without having the intent to deliver. They will then make it difficult to request a refund or replacement despite the fact that you paid for an item that never arrived.
• Package delivery scams: Unsolicited calls or text messages may direct you to or include a “tracking link” that you are urged to click in order to update your delivery or payment preferences. These communications often come from parties who are not providing you with any goods or services; rather they are trying to obtain your financial or personal information.
• Strange payment methods: Scammers do not want to give refunds for items once they have been purchased. If you are asked to pay through money transfer apps, wire transfer, or money order, it’s likely a scam. These are payment methods in which you cannot easily dispute charges or receive a refund.
• Look-alike sites: Scammers try to deceive consumers with fake retail advertisements through social media, email or pop-up windows. While these advertisements may look realistic and offer discounts, they often lead to imposter websites rather than the legitimate website.

What you can do

Although online shopping scams are prevalent, that doesn’t mean you can’t take precautionary measures to ensure the safest possible online shopping experience. There are several steps you can take to protect yourself:

• Use credit cards whenever possible. Compared to other forms of payment, credit cards offer more protections against fraud and the ability to dispute charges if you encounter issues with your purchase.
• Research the seller. Before making a purchase, research the legitimacy of the retailer you plan on purchasing from. This is a quick and easy way to see if others have had problems with their products.
• Comparison shop. If you come across an item that is priced significantly cheaper than what other retailers are selling it for, it is most likely a scam. Scammers create look-alike “official” websites to trick consumers into purchasing knockoff items.
• Go directly to trusted sites. Type in a company’s website directly rather than scanning QR codes or clicking on ads and promotional materials.
• Save receipts and confirmation emails. If a scam has taken place, saved documentation from your purchase can help you work with your bank or the seller to get your money back.

Additional resources

For more information regarding marketplace challenges facing the military community, read the BBB’s recent Military Research Report.

To protect yourself and loved ones from online shopping fraud, here are some additional helpful resources and reporting websites:

• FTC article on the Best Practices for Online Shopping.
• Veteran, Service Member, And Family Fraud Evasion (VSAFE) website.
• FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) Reporting website.
• FTC Fraud Reporting website.
• Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Consumer Inquiries and Complaints Center.
• BBB Scam Tracker.