“Oh no, I have been ripped off…I even paid for it,” we often hear such similar statements when we overlook the loopholes that the E-commerce industry has and is still facing even more now as the industry is growing, becoming victim to online fraud. With many benefits, that online shopping brings with it including convenience, variety, saving time, discounts, and much more, the industry has now become a hub of predators looking out for the prey to make a move so they can attack right on. Initially, the concept of online shopping was to benefit people and businesses; however, fraudsters have taken advantage of this platform, exploiting customers.

Currently, every country around the globe is facing a tremendous amount of issues, mostly regarding economic and financial stability, due to Covid-19. Similarly, in Australia, the virus has taken all of us down with its adverse effects. However, online businesses were saviors for many. The amount of earning done by the E-commerce sector is awe-inspiring; nevertheless, many of us fell victim to cybercriminals and lost some of the most important information including, financial.

Let us have a look at how many people fell into the trick of scammers,

This percentage highlights the fact that many of us now need to take precautions when shopping online. Yes, you can save yourself from being a victim again to this horrible experience. Here are some tips before you click on purchase so you can enjoy your shopping in a safe and secure environment. They include:

Ø “Shop From Enciphered Websites”

Not all websites you encounter are reliable as not all of these websites are operating from a platform that is secured; therefore, you need to be vigilant. Now, you might be thinking that how would you know if shopping from a particular website is safe or not. On the address/URL bar, if you see an icon of a lock, then you have found your answer as that lock will be an indication about the website being encrypted and thus, you can enjoy shopping safely. This lock is known as a padlock. The lock will ensure that the personal information that you have entered has now a shield on it and cannot be decoded by any. Moreover, the padlock symbol occurs next to the Wi-Fi symbol, pointing out the fact that you are surfing on a secured connection.

Some of the most trusted websites that have padlocks include:

Ø “Look For The Red Flags”

SCAM ALERT: UNUSUAL INFORMATION IS ASKED

Most of us present ourselves as a feast to predators by being so naïve and giving out all the information that has been asked about. It is usual to give certain information when purchasing something online, for the products to be delivered to you at the right time and the right place, but beware of the additional information that you are being asked about. For instance, if a website asks you to enter your social insurance number take a step back, and do not click purchase, it is a fraud.

LOOK OUT FOR: https

Before you enter any information regarding your credit or debit card make sure the website is secured. You can easily find whether the information you enter will be protected or not by looking for “S” in the address bar. If the website starts with HTTPS, go ahead and shop. It is safer to use your credit card compared to others or even pay services that we have been provided with including Google pay. This will further lessen the probability of falling into a scam.

Ø “Beware Of Pop-Ups”

When shopping online you often see some ads of different products belonging to different brands popping up. They are designed in such a way that you might even consider having a check on them. Stop right there, do not click on it is going to direct all your saved information to the predator that has been longing for it. Beware of such fraud; they are there to trap you. These ads would be telling you that a virus has entered your computer or secured your computer by clicking ‘here’. Such statements are presented to play with your mind.

To avoid clicking on pop-ups, install ad-blockers. They block all the ads. Although some websites require you to turn off the ad-blocker to continue surfing, be careful and do not make a move towards the pop-up ads.

Ø “The Deal Is Too Good To Te True”

You often find yourself, when surfing, to a site where some glamorous deals are ready for you, just a click away. Well, are they for real? Have you ever thought about that? Think about it, how a luxurious product with several other qualities can be available at a fascinating price. A price that will grab your attention in a snap, something that is so great and unbelievable, be true. The deal might mesmerize you but carefully read on it. The scammers have plotted it. The moment you move the cursor and click on it…Poof! They are in. Now they have control over your personal information.

Protect yourself from such scams. Read about it and if the site does not have a padlock and no s in URL, you need to leave the site.

Ø “Secure Accounts With A Strong Password”

Hackers find their way in through the accounts. You have to make sure that you have not created an easy pathway for them to enter. They will have their first attempt of attack on where you have stored all the personal information including your finances. Some of the websites require you to make an account before you can “add to cart.” Therefore, make sure you use different and not easy-to-get passwords for different sites. The passwords you set should not be the same for all the sites. This will minimize the risk of being attacked by a cybercriminal. Although some of the information, they might get if they have hacked one of your accounts, on a particular website, they cannot use the same strategy to hack the other. Thus, it is just a precaution to keep down the possibility of falling into a trap. Let us have a look at some of the tips that you can use for setting a strong password:

• Use a composite set of letters such as uppercase letters, numbers, and signs such as underscore
• No personal information such as birthdays
• It should carry at least 8 or more characters

Other precautions you should take while shopping online include:

• Avoid using public Wi-Fi
• Use VPN if your connection is not secured
• Do thorough research about sites you are buying from
• Read reviews

If you ever find yourself in a situation where you believe your personal information has been hacked take certain measures,

• Report it immediately
• Check your bank statements
• Set a lock on your log-in ( For instance, an OTP is required to sign in)

When taking all the precautionary measures, enjoy safe and happy shopping, Aussies!