The festive season is upon us, which means the frantic rush to buy presents has already begun. Before wondering how to find the best gift at the best price, you first need to know whether the website in question is reliable and secure.
According to the FPS Economy, there have been 8,000 reports of fraudulent webshops and dishonest sellers. So be careful of these scammers who are trying to steal your festive spirit, like the Grinch they are.
Still need to do your end-of-year shopping?
Here are a few tips:
- Use common sense
Be critical of offers that seem too good to be true. Be wary of phishing emails and suspicious websites.
2. Check the web address
Pay attention to subtle differences in domain names (such as bol.net instead of bol.com) that could mislead you.
3. Use reliable networks
Avoid public Wi-Fi networks for payments. Instead, use your mobile network for greater security.
4. Keep your devices up to date
Always install the latest updates for your operating system and antivirus software to avoid vulnerabilities.
5. Choose certified online shops
Look for quality labels such as BeCommerce and check the contact details, return policy and customer reviews (on Google, for example, as reviews on the webshop may have been created by scammers).
How can you tell if you are on a fraudulent website?
1. Check the seller's identity details: if they cannot be found or are missing, this should raise alarm bells.
2. Make sure you are on the original website of a shop or brand: scams are very sophisticated nowadays, to the point where it is not easy to distinguish original sites from imitations.
3. Pay attention when making your payment: if you only wanted to buy a product once and you have unwittingly signed up for a subscription, this is not very customer-friendly and also raises questions.
4. Avoid making purchases from advertisements on social media. Once you have arrived on the site and made your payment, you may never receive the product you purchased.
What should you do if you are a victim of fraud?
If, despite all your precautions, you realise that you have made a purchase on a fraudulent website, do not panic. There are ways to get your money back.
- Contact your bank: If you paid by bank transfer or debit card, contact your bank immediately. Explain the situation and ask them to block the transaction. The quicker you react, the more likely it is that the bank will be able to recover the money from the fraudster's bank.
- Contact your credit card company: If you used a credit card, you have additional protection. Many credit card companies (Visa, Mastercard, etc.) offer refund guarantees in the event of fraud. You can visit macarte.be to open a purchase dispute file and request a refund.
- Monitor your bank statements and, in the event of suspicious transactions, immediately notify Card Stop on 078/170 170 to block your card.
- File a complaint: If you have been scammed, it is important to file a complaint with your local police. This not only helps in investigations against fraudulent websites, but also increases your chances of recovering your money through legal action.
- Report the fraudulent website: send the URL of the fraudulent website to suspicious@safeonweb.be. This will help prevent other people from falling into the trap. Internet users will then receive a warning message when they try to visit the site.
- Report the offence on the ConsumerConnect website.
