How to Identify and Avoid Online Scams

Expert Tips to Spot Scams and Protect Your Money

[{"selector":"#anim-ea755095-8354-4dfb-b827-8480ba4b58b2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e672eb05-43f9-4e4e-9247-46e06601b625","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 114.13160%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6fc87b67-9c00-4f95-8c4b-2db027196b34","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-58ce398d-ac87-44f6-8c69-094bfec1746a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-104.48548%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1266d583-0aa3-4706-b552-54ef090acfd8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c83f5b2c-c0cf-434e-bd95-817c4179ad95","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-122.37762%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Assess the quality of text and images on the website; beware of spelling mistakes, bad translations, or low-quality photos

[{"selector":"#anim-6777d79f-676d-417a-91e2-60f66f7baa09","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-62dbd54b-b711-4a34-b114-9105c8ac113f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9f45f636-ccdf-4213-97f0-0f02d1426387","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3115e7e3-1e93-4a08-9ac4-4c2c945adff5","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-63deg) translate3d(132.78689%, 0px, 0) rotate(63deg)","rotate(-63deg) translate3d(0px, 0px, 0) rotate(63deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-426270fd-c4a5-461b-bac1-fcc6301f843e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0699dc70-f69e-427a-87e6-2c0f68d42adf","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ca3a6bbc-ccc1-45e1-bf15-83a2b34c8c47","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(131.10235%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3621a516-0c59-428b-9cd6-17dafe51f6c3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-789404a3-1d51-497c-a882-e4ebd36d23ee","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] Carefully read the company’s policies; avoid sites with vague or poorly written policies, as they may be untrustworthy.

[{"selector":"#anim-759ce42e-0353-4f0f-af5a-be9fe1a6934a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-701a01db-584d-4ef4-8e3b-c2d5479eab6f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 99.81121%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-23e701e9-7d73-46e0-a412-6558c7e05395","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9fc1de4d-7f4c-4168-8b48-0e6d14a99901","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -173.54115%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Off-white Banner Be cautious of sites asking for excessive personal information beyond checkout; it could be a scam attempt.

[{"selector":"#anim-b4ef0195-3264-4399-9766-8935497ed123","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-511fbafb-91ac-4b61-88e9-beb4be26e3af","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -99.79955%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2357a131-98fc-4ae2-868f-f8bcc4460102","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0f1ffefd-b578-48b7-bdf3-6c2b51081554","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(105.27705%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b7e94719-aea1-45c3-b347-2174505a6b95","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-90652b7a-65e1-49b7-9367-749fb2af01ec","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(120.06803%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Research unfamiliar companies; check the "About Us" section and search for news articles or blog posts to gauge reliability.

[{"selector":"#anim-a2e69e42-0c67-45d8-9949-997f9495befe","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-43c61ac0-c56a-4c94-a2ac-5ddb25971648","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 100.05394%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c8f04188-1b2c-4457-9c5a-07a5f0f92192","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(104.22164%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f83ba459-8830-4d32-8323-f01299110c65","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-de001d26-38ec-4ff6-b1bf-172c9d5a7f26","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-850162a0-9a5f-4938-a7fe-2f305a249f94","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(120.06803%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b5037ae8-e2d6-4e52-bf59-058ae6d1aefd","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e67ad9d0-8a21-4451-a9a6-463f72a72162","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] Be wary of excessively low prices or unbelievable discounts; if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.

[{"selector":"#anim-b7c36520-63ad-4e1d-bf22-6d3d7c965633","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3e86d9e7-e584-450b-8cb1-67f0b3c2e7d4","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2e71d1d3-e7af-4ab7-98e6-e542332d1a84","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-63deg) translate3d(-136.06557%, 0px, 0) rotate(63deg)","rotate(-63deg) translate3d(0px, 0px, 0) rotate(63deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-51d48986-861d-43ed-a1de-c9fe202f208c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-afae5b2d-eea0-42d4-807f-043740098a9a","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dbe4dbe4-55fa-4581-9c79-6e8c929b55f7","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-133.19837%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e39070f2-8fe3-4b2f-8a12-9a5f620c7afa","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ac058348-d2c8-4ab4-82ed-9f89ee6a3c9b","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.15)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"forwards"}] Check customer reviews on the website and forums; search for warnings or testimonials about fraudulent activity.

Exercise caution with ads on social media; research unfamiliar stores before making a purchase.

[{"selector":"#anim-edc3a66f-c71c-48f0-be08-583101921add","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e5bff467-ab2c-465a-b761-34dc6e7bdc37","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b5348eee-7a56-4bc7-ba2e-dc1a79709ec3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c0b6af4e-5d2d-47af-a8dd-687876712c7e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(104.22164%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5c849804-b006-4966-813c-37176ba1de03","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e29d8dc9-11bf-414e-9e57-646170d8b5e1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(118.36735%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]