Online Shopping Scams: How to Buy Safely
That designer bag at 80% off? The electronics store you've never heard of? Social media ads with "limited time" deals? Not everything online is what it seems. Here's how to shop safely.
Safe Shopping Checklist
- Check the domain age - scam sites are usually brand new (days or weeks old)
- If it's too good to be true - 80% off designer items is a major red flag
- Look for real contact info - phone number, address, ABN you can verify
- Read reviews elsewhere - not on the site itself, check Trustpilot/Reddit
- Pay with credit card or PayPal - never direct bank transfer or crypto
The Scale of the Problem
Online shopping scams are one of the most common fraud types. In 2024:
Types of Online Shopping Scams
Fake Online Stores
Professional-looking websites selling products that never arrive. They often use stolen photos from legitimate retailers and offer prices that seem too good to be true.
Signs: Brand new domain, no phone number, only email contact, prices 50-80% below market, no physical address.
Counterfeit Goods
You receive something, but it's a cheap knockoff of what was advertised. Common with designer goods, electronics, supplements, and cosmetics.
Signs: "Authentic" claims, limited product photos, vague descriptions, ships from unexpected countries.
Social Media Ad Scams
Ads on Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok directing to fraudulent stores. These often use stolen product images and celebrity endorsements.
Signs: "Closing down sale," extreme discounts, pressure to buy immediately, links to unfamiliar websites.
Marketplace Scams
Scammers on Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree, or eBay who take payment but never ship items, or trick you into paying outside the platform's protection.
Signs: Requests payment via bank transfer, wants to communicate off-platform, story keeps changing.
Red Flags: When to Walk Away
Prices too good to be true
80% off designer goods? Latest iPhone for $200? No legitimate business can afford those margins.
No contact information
Legitimate businesses have addresses, phone numbers, and ABN/company details.
Payment by bank transfer only
Credit cards and PayPal offer buyer protection. Bank transfers don't.
Brand new website
Domain registered last week but claims to be an established store? Red flag.
Poor grammar and design
Broken English, pixelated images, inconsistent branding = likely scam.
No reviews or only 5-star reviews
Real businesses have mixed reviews. All perfect scores are suspicious.
How to Shop Safely Online
Safe Shopping Checklist
Research before you buy
Search "[store name] scam" or "[store name] reviews" before purchasing from unfamiliar sites.
Check the domain on TrustNope
We'll tell you domain age, security status, and flag suspicious lookalike domains.
Pay by credit card or PayPal
These offer buyer protection. Never pay by direct bank transfer.
Verify contact information
Real businesses have real addresses, phone numbers, and ABN details you can verify.
Be skeptical of social media ads
Click-through to unfamiliar websites? Always verify before buying.
Stay on the platform
On marketplaces, never communicate or pay outside the platform's system.
What To Do If You've Been Scammed
Act Fast:
- 1. Contact your bank or card provider immediately to report the fraudulent transaction
- 2. Report to PayPal if you used their service - you may be covered by Buyer Protection
- 3. Report to Scamwatch (Australia) or appropriate authority in your country
- 4. Change passwords if you created an account on the scam site
- 5. Monitor your accounts for any additional unauthorized activity
- 6. Keep evidence - screenshots, emails, transaction records
The faster you act, the better your chances of recovering funds. Credit card chargebacks have time limits, so don't delay.
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