Spot the Gems. Dodge the Scams.

The internet has become a massive marketplace, offering everything from the latest gadgets to handcrafted furniture. While the convenience is undeniable, it's crucial to be aware of online scams targeting unsuspecting shoppers. Here are a few warning signs to help you navigate the digital world and spot the gems of good deals from the pitfalls of luring scams.

• Enticing Advertisements: Commercials and other ads are often quite persuasive, painting attractive pictures of whatever the business sells. Ads promoting low costs and high rewards are hard to ignore by design. Be careful about ads promising unbelievable deals or featuring products with limited information. Scammers often rely on unrealistic offers and misleading marketing tactics. If something seems too good to be true, it probably is.

• Lack of Online Presence: A reputable business will likely have a well-designed website and active social media profiles, not just one or the other. An established online presence, including a professional website and active profiles across multiple platforms like Facebook and Instagram, shows a shopper that the business is focused on finding the right audience for its products and services rather than just taking shortcuts. The absence of these can be a red flag.

• Suspicious Website Traits: Pay attention to the website's design and functionality. Non-HTTPS websites, poor-quality content and unprofessional design are indicators of a potential scam. Beware of pages that glitch, load very slowly or even repeatedly offer banner ads with deals that seem too good to be true. Scammers often use flashy ads to tempt unsuspecting consumers, so avoid clicking on ad banners that take you to other websites.

• Missing Information: A legitimate business will have clear and accessible information, including contact details, return policies and legal documents, like terms and conditions and privacy policies.

• Unconventional Payment Methods: Avoid businesses that only accept non-traditional payment methods, like gift cards, cryptocurrencies or direct bank transfers. Stick to recognizable payment options for added security.

To ensure you're dealing with a legitimate business, follow these steps:

• Research. Head to your favorite search engine and conduct a basic search with the business name, followed by keywords like "reviews" or "scam." This can reveal necessary information about the business' reputation. 

• Read Customer Reviews. Look for a review section to see what other shoppers say about the products and the business. Check for external customer reviews on Trustpilot and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) platforms. Positive reviews are a good sign of legitimacy and give a picture of the type of customer service you can expect.

• Please make sure it's a Secure Website. Legitimate businesses offer secure payment methods. Look for familiar options like credit cards, PayPal, and secure buy-now-pay-later options. Also, look for the padlock symbol in your browser's address bar and confirmation of HTTPS encryption. These security features ensure your payment information is safe.

• Verify Contact Information. A legitimate business will provide and clearly display its phone number, email address and physical address (if applicable). You should be able to contact any business about your purchase experience, especially those businesses that claim to welcome feedback and reviews. Verify the contact details provided on the website. Try calling or emailing the listed phone number to confirm that it is operational.

• Verify Social Media Presence. Active and responsive social media profiles often signify a genuine business. If the business has something worth selling, it will talk about it and encourage others to share their stories, too.

Check out these additional resources for more tips on how to stay safe while shopping online:

• Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA): https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/news/shopping-safely-online
• Federal Trade Commission (FTC): https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/online-shopping 
• National Cybersecurity Alliance: https://staysafeonline.org/resources/safe-online-holiday-shopping/