Beware of Cyber Swindles: Understanding the Seven Major Warning Signs From Internet Merchants

Key Takeaways

• If a seller is offering significantly lower prices than market value and insists on using unreliable payment methods without refund options, it’s likely a scam.
• Avoid sellers with inconsistent branding across listings or websites, coupled with poor ratings and negative reviews from verified buyers.
• Fraudulent sellers often lack clear or user-friendly return policies and may request excessive personal information that seems unnecessary for the transaction.

E-commerce has made it convenient for buyers to shop from the comfort of their homes, but not knowing who you’re buying from can make online shopping risky. However, you can often spot signs that differentiate a fraudulent seller from an authentic one. Let’s explore some of these signs.

Prices That Seem Too Good to Be True

Prices that seem too good to be true are often a red flag for a suspicious seller. Scammers use unbelievably low prices to lure in unsuspecting buyers, exploiting the appeal of a great deal. To protect yourself, always compare a seller’s prices with those from other sellers and platforms. If there’s a significant disparity, the seller is likely running a scam.

However, remember that some new sellers might offer lower prices to attract customers and build their reputation on the platform. However, the price difference should still be minimal. If an item is excessively cheap, you may receive a substandard or counterfeit product or possibly nothing at all.

Risky Payment Options With No Refund Guarantee

Legit sellers offer secure payment options like credit cards, PayPal, and other trustworthy payment processors. These methods usually provide buyer protection, meaning if the seller commits fraud, you can request a refund. In contrast, scammers often push for less reliable payment methods, which lack buyer protection and are difficult to trace.

If a seller doesn’t offer a secure payment option and insists on using unreliable methods, such as wire transfers or cryptocurrency, where the seller gains irreversible access to your money, and you won’t get a refund if something goes wrong, it’s a clear sign something is wrong. In such cases, it’s wise to choose a different seller or marketplace.

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Seller Fails to Provide Shipping Information

Legitimate sellers typically provide shipping details, including the tracking number, carrier information, and shipping method, as soon as your order is processed and shipped to the provided address. They also confirm the order via email or phone from their official contact information and keep you updated on the status of your order.

If a seller fails to share these details promptly, it could indicate either disorganization on their part, which could lead to shipping delays or a lack of intention to ship your order at all. So, demand the shipping details from the seller. If they fail to provide them and offer excuses, it’s likely a scam. In this case, if you used a refundable payment method, apply for a refund.

Poor Ratings With Reviews That May Be Fake

Reviews offer a glimpse into the experiences of previous customers and help verify a seller’s legitimacy. Fraudulent sellers who fail to send products, ship counterfeit items, or deliver lower quality goods than advertised receive poor ratings and negative reviews. To counteract this, they may generate fake positive reviews .

If you notice multiple complaints from verified buyers about issues like unshipped items, counterfeit products, or poor quality, and if most of the glowing reviews seem inauthentic and unverified, you should be suspicious of the seller. Also, a seller with no reviews—despite claiming to have been active for months—should also raise suspicion.

Inconsistent Branding Raising Red Flags

Fraudulent sellers often skimp on branding and quality, which is often evident from poor-quality images and error-ridden product descriptions in their listings. If a seller has multiple listings, you might notice inconsistent branding elements like mismatched logos or varying fonts across images. Also, a lack of verification by the marketplace is a major red flag.

Moreover, such sellers often lack a professional online presence. They might not have an official website or any social media footprint to verify their legitimacy. When they do have a website, it is usually poorly designed, with a random URL that doesn’t match the company name and intrusive popup advertisements that create urgency with a countdown timer.

When shopping on platforms like Facebook Marketplace , be cautious of sellers using newly created profiles, as opposed to genuine sellers who use their personal profiles to establish trust.

Unclear or Dubious Return Policy

Legitimate sellers typically provide a clear and easily understandable return policy on their website or listings. In contrast, scammer sellers either fail to offer any return policy or make the conditions so stringent that the return option feels practically non-existent. That’s a clear red flag indicating potential scam activity.

Signs of a suspicious return policy include overly complex language, a short return window, lack of contact information for returns processing, or requiring returns to be sent to a different region or country, among others. Similarly, strict conditions for returns, such as demanding original packaging in perfect condition, should raise concerns.

While many of these signs are self-evident and easy to spot, you should check if fellow buyers have complained about the refund policy in their reviews, as this could indicate potential issues with the seller’s legitimacy. In such cases, you should exercise caution and avoid purchasing from that seller.

Requesting Excessive Personal Information

When shopping online, you only need to provide your name, shipping address, and email address to the seller. If a seller requests critical personal details like your social security number, personal ID number, or financial information beyond payment confirmation, it’s a warning sign. Providing such sensitive information can leave you vulnerable to identity theft and impersonation.

If a seller insists on providing overly intrusive information beyond what is necessary, it’s best to avoid purchasing from them to protect your personal and financial security .

By carefully observing the signs mentioned above, you can hopefully identify a scammer seller before they dupe you. If you notice multiple indicators suggesting fraudulent activity, report them, mainly if they are operating on a legitimate marketplace. Doing so will prompt the platform to take appropriate action, safeguarding other buyers from falling victim to their scams.