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For those who are unable to shop locally this holiday season, online shopping is an option, but be cautious of fraudsters who are using the digital world and festive buying to steal your money or identity.
Fraudsters do this in various ways, like fake retail websites, counterfeit goods, vendors who vanish after you’ve paid, phony free trial offers, hyperlinks that can launch malware and more.
Here are tips to avoid scams with your online shopping:
Verify the seller
Purchase only from trusted company websites or sellers, and watch out for those with grammatical errors, odd URLs or a lack of customer reviews. Look closely at the site’s privacy policy as well as terms and conditions and remember to check customer feedback.
Build in security
Make sure the websites you visit are secure. If a site shows a broken key or an open padlock symbol in your browser, it means the transaction isn’t secure and could be intercepted by a third party. When the key symbol is complete or the padlock is locked, or the web address begins with “https://,” it’s a secure transaction.
Keep personal identity data to yourself
Protect your personal information. Never share your social insurance number, date of birth, driver’s license number or any other information to a seller. If they’re asking for information like this, be cautious – it could be a scam.
After the sale
Monitor your bank and credit card statements frequently to review your purchases and payments as they happen. Watch for discrepancies, like repeated or unknown charges.
Remember that you have a role to play in ensuring your online security. Be careful and protect your money, your identity and your peace of mind. If you have information about online purchase scams, report it to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
Find more information at canada.ca/money.
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