Prince George RCMP are warning residents to protect themselves from scammers when making online purchases.
Prince George RCMP are warning residents to watch out for common scams and frauds while shopping online this holiday season.
According to Statistics Canada, 82 per cent of Canadians shopped online in 2020, up from 73 per cent in 2018. Canadians spent a total of $84.4 billion online n 2020, up from $57.4 billion two years prior. During the COVID-19 pandemic, 13 per cent of Canadians ordered groceries online for the first time and nine per cent bought physical goods online for the first time.
“The excitement of finding the perfect gift for a friend or loved one can sometimes cloud our judgment, especially if it’s at a great price,” Prince George RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Jennifer Cooper said in a statement issued on Wednesday. “However, not every online shopping venue has consumers’ best interests in mind. To help people navigate which online stores are secure and which ones are not, Prince George RCMP has some tips shoppers can use to help decide where to spend their money.
Here are four things to look for when shopping online to reduce your chances of being scammed:
1) Watch out for prices that are “too good to be true.” If a website is offering something at a price considerably lower than any other retailer, it’s a good indicator it may be a scam.
2) Avoid complicated or unfamiliar payment options. If the payment page is unfamiliar or…
