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This works out at a total of 34 million people.
Can you recognise fake shops?
But is there a way of spotting these impersonations?
While some pages are developed as original shops, some are trying to trick people by impersonating well-known brands.
A common trick used by cybercriminals is subtly changing the website domain name.
The use of short URLs is common, often being used to hide the actual web address.
Sites appear to be offering unbeatable prices but then disappear as soon as payment is made.
Fake sites will often fail to deliver the product they’ve advertised.
Fake reviews are a quick and easy way for scammers to lure you in.
An array of positive reviews may look good but it’s important to look a bit deeper.
Are the reviews vague and lacking detail?
If so, they’re probably not real.
No negative reviews are a giveaway as well, as scammers won’t want you to see them.
A common red flag is if a very young site has an unusually high number of reviews.
Scammers use this tactic to quickly establish trust and lure in unsuspecting victims.
Phishingis a well established tactic utilised by scammers.
They send out emails or texts inviting you to drop your personal information or access fraudulent shops.
How else can you protect yourself from online shopping scams?
For example, NordVPN offersThreat Protection Proand ExpressVPN offersIdentity Defender.
Tools like these can identify dangerous and suspicious sites, warning you of their danger before you access them.
VPNs are a fantastic way of protecting yourself and your data online but they are not a silver bullet.
Be sceptical about sites, never access or submit anything you’re not 100% sure about.
Although some can be, the websites used by scammers are not always of good quality.
you’re free to also look for the company’s contact information.
All this can normally be found in the “About” or “Contact” sections of the website.
