Black Friday and Cyber Monday are approaching fast, with the majority of retailers participating in the four day sales bonanza! However, people wishing to snap up a great deal are not the only ones looking to take advantage over this period.
Scammers are constantly adapting their methodologies and police are anticipating that they will seek to exploit online shoppers through fake social media ads and websites. This type of scam usually involves the victim purchasing items through an online marketplace, but after making payment, fails to receive the goods.
South Australia Police are urging online shoppers to be vigilant over this period and to keep an eye out for dodgy ads.
Here are some tips to help keep you safe online-
- Use known and reputable sites when shopping online
- Be cautious if the advertised price of an item online looks unusually low. There are some good deals out there, but some are too good to be true for a reason!
- Beware - scammers will send emails that appear to be from genuine companies and brands. They may look legitimate, but have different URLs.
- Check the websites security - ensuring it has a full authentication system (such as verified by Visa/MasterCard).
- Conduct your own research and don't rely on reviews posted on the website or within the social media post itself
For further information on scams affecting South Australians, please visit http://www.police.sa.gov.au/scams
