Online shopping offers an unparalleled level of convenience and efficiency, allowing consumers to browse and purchase products from the comfort of their homes at any time. This ease of access eliminates the need to visit physical stores, saving valuable time and effort.
Additionally, the wide variety of products available online often surpasses what is found in brick-and-mortar shops, providing shoppers with an extensive range of choices.
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However, despite these benefits, a significant concern for online shoppers is the risk of scams and fraud. Cybercriminals frequently target e-commerce platforms, attempting to exploit vulnerabilities to steal personal and financial information.
Therefore, consumers need to remain vigilant and adopt robust security practices, such as using secure payment methods and regularly monitoring their financial statements, to protect themselves from these risks.
Online marketplace OLX has advised users to take into account the following measures to safeguard themselves against scams and fraudulent activities.
1. Shop from trusted websites
Stick to well-known and reputable websites when making an online purchase. Major retailers and brands invest in robust security measures to protect their customers’ information. Look for HTTPS encryption in the website URL, indicated by a padlock icon in the address bar.
2. Set unique passwords for online accounts
One of the common ways to fall for scams or fraud is via password breaches. If you are setting up the same password for all accounts, and if a scammer cracks one password, all your accounts can get cracked.
To protect yourself, set unique and strong passwords for each online account you have. It is advisable to change your password from time to time to prevent password leaks. If remembering multiple passwords becomes challenging, you can also use a password manager.
3. Make purchases as a guest
It is quite common for e-commerce stores to encourage you to open an account to make a purchase. This makes your future purchases easy and more convenient but can pose risks related to data breaches as your personal information is stored. To this, consider checking out as a guest whenever possible, especially for non-frequent online purchases. This ensures that your data is not saved permanently.
4. Never share your OTP and other personal information
Never share your OTP (One-Time Password) received via SMS or email with anyone, including customer service representatives. OTPs are meant for your use only and sharing them can lead to unauthorised access to your accounts and potential fraud.
5. Say no to free or public Wi-Fi
Free Wi-Fi is very easy to hack and using it can expose you to scams and frauds. Your details such as name, address, and even financial information can be easily stolen via public or free Wi-Fi due to lack of encryption. Sometimes, access to free Wi-Fi can be set up by fraudsters to lure you towards scams. To protect yourself, always use your data, Wi-Fi, or Wi-Fi from a trusted source only.
6. Be wary of phishing attempts
Phishing scams involve fraudulent emails or websites designed to trick you into revealing sensitive information like login credentials or credit card details. Be cautious of unexpected emails asking you to click on links or provide personal information. Verify the sender’s email address and avoid clicking on suspicious links.
7. Check seller reviews and ratings
If you’re purchasing from a third-party seller on a marketplace or auction site, take the time to read reviews and ratings from other customers. Pay attention to any negative feedback regarding product quality, shipping times, or fraudulent behaviour. Choose sellers with a high rating and positive reviews to minimise the risk of scams.
By following these seven tips, OLX suggested that you can reduce the risk of encountering online shopping scams and fraud. You should stay informed and vigilant while enjoying the convenience and benefits of online shopping safely.
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