The internet is a wonderful place. Within seconds, you can learn something, talk to someone, or buy whatever from wherever. Shopping online, however, can get hairy. Yes, you can find just about anything you want from anywhere in the world, but because of the anonymity that online shopping affords, scammers abound. Some of the trickier tactics scammers use to get you to buy false products or share your information are through fake product reviews, phony advertisements, and fraudulent websites. Read on to see how you can spot these fishy internet scams so you can keep yourself safe while you do your holiday online shopping.
Avoid bait and switches.
Some companies advertise products with pretty photos that bear little resemblance to the actual item. To outsmart this tactic, just drag the product image into the Google search bar. This will show you anywhere that photo is posted online. If it appears on a site where the product is being sold for a much higher price, the image was likely stolen.
Spot bogus websites.
If the item you’re considering buying is being sold on a website you’ve never heard of, just type the web address into Whois.DomainTools.com or the Domain Age Checker at DupliChecker.com. These sites tell you how long the website has been around — if it’s only been active for a few months or less, chances are it’s not legit.
Fend off social media scams.
Saw a must-have item advertised on social media? Check if the ad has…
