How to avoid online shopping scams

Online shopping can unlock so many possibilities, in just a few steps you can purchase almost anything you want from anywhere in the world and have it all delivered right to your doorstep. Whether you shop at popular online retailers or order niche products from specialty shops, it’s important to be on the lookout for online shopping scams. 

It’s not uncommon to hear of online shoppers who have been scammed out of their money, or worse, had their identity stolen by an online store scam. Here are some tips and tricks to help you avoid being scammed while shopping online with Microsoft Edge.

Verify if the online shop is legitimate

The first step to avoiding fake shopping websites and online shopping scams is to verify if the online shop is a real shop with accreditation from organizations such as the Better Business Bureau. This can be done by examining the shop’s website carefully—check for details such as the shop’s physical address, phone number, and email address. Legitimate online shops will have all these details prominently displayed on their website; fake shopping websites make it difficult to find critical information. They will also have additional details such as shipping information, warranties, and return policies, and guarantees that match what you would expect from a brick-and-mortar retailer.

Look for a secure connection by seeing if there’s a padlock icon in your Microsoft Edge address bar, and make sure that the website’s URL starts with “https:” instead of “http.” This indicates that the website has an SSL certificate, which encrypts your data and protects it from hackers.

Check the reviews

Before making a purchase from an online shop, check the reviews from other customers. Look for reviews on the shop’s website as well as on third-party review websites. Be wary of shops that have only a few or no reviews. Reviews that are too short, too vague, or repetitive are suspicious and may have been generated by bots and signal an online store scam.

Beware of too-good-to-be-true deals

Scammers often use too-good-to-be-true deals to lure unsuspecting online shoppers. If a pair of just-released sneakers are listed for 90% off, that should be flagged as something suspicious. Be wary of online shops that offer prices that are significantly lower than other shops. Use online shopping tools that can compare prices from different online shops. Digital coupons, like the kind Microsoft Edge finds, can offer great savings you can trust.

Use a reputable payment method

Make sure that the website you’re buying from has options for reputable payment methods—such as PayPal, Apple, or Google Pay and major credit cards like Visa, Mastercard, and American Express. If anything goes awry with your purchase, these services offer buyer protection and reimbursement from online shopping scams. That means you can dispute a transaction if you don’t receive the product or if the product is not as described. Avoid wire transfers and one-on-one purchases with individuals, as these methods don’t typically include buyer-protection services.

Rely on Microsoft Edge to help keep you safe

With a suite of powerful security features, you can depend on Microsoft Edge to keep your sensitive financial information protected. Enjoy these tools and features when you use Microsoft Edge:

Microsoft Defender SmartScreen

Microsoft Defender SmartScreen blocks websites that have been flagged by reputable sources to be unsafe. If you come across a suspicious website, you can also report it to Microsoft Edge.

Password Monitor

Password Monitor checks your saved passwords when you use them against all-too-common data breaches and will alert you in case your password has been revealed. Most data breaches happen through online shopping websites, so ensuring that your passwords can’t be accessed by strangers is a top priority in Microsoft Edge.

Password generator

In case you do need to change your password, the built-in Microsoft Edge password generator can suggest a super-secure password that will meet all password requirements.

Online shopping scams can be avoided by verifying that an online shop is legit, being wary of too-good-to-be-true deals, using a reputable payment method, checking the reviews, and keeping your personal information private. Fortunately, Microsoft Edge and its built-in shopping tools—such as digital coupons and Microsoft Rewards—can direct you towards legitimate retailers and trustworthy deals when you shop online. Try Microsoft Edge today to enjoy the convenience of online shopping without worrying about fake shopping websites or other risky business.