{"id":100046,"date":"2020-04-24T10:35:10","date_gmt":"2020-04-24T17:35:10","guid":{"rendered":"\/blogs\/?p=100046"},"modified":"2025-03-26T23:51:41","modified_gmt":"2025-03-27T06:51:41","slug":"online-shopping-scams-7-ways-to-fight-them","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/internet-security\/online-shopping-scams-7-ways-to-fight-them\/","title":{"rendered":"Online shopping scams \u2013\u00a07\u00a0ways to fight them\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0<\/b>Be wary of online shopping scams \u2013 <\/span><\/b>7<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/b>ways to fight them<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

W<\/span>hile some of us may be quite\u00a0<\/span>skilled at<\/span>\u00a0finding\u00a0<\/span>miscellaneous\u00a0<\/span>gadgets\u00a0<\/span>and great deals on apparel online<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>relying on e<\/span>–<\/span>commerce platforms for<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>all of<\/span>\u00a0our<\/span>\u00a0basic household needs\u00a0<\/span>is a<\/span>\u00a0new challenge.\u00a0<\/span>M<\/span>any<\/span>\u00a0of us<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>preferred<\/span>\u00a0to shop at brick and mortar retail for certain purchases\u00a0<\/span>such as groceries or pharmaceuticals.\u00a0<\/span>Now that we\u2019ve turned online\u00a0<\/span>for all\u00a0<\/span>our shopping needs,\u00a0<\/span>online suppl<\/span>iers<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>have<\/span>\u00a0struggle<\/span>d<\/span>\u00a0to meet the surge in demand<\/span>\u00a0for certain goods<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>opening<\/span>\u00a0a new space for third-party sellers and\u00a0<\/span>malicious actors<\/span><\/a>\u00a0to step in.\u00a0<\/span>Since the beginning of the year, the\u00a0<\/span>Federal Trade Commission<\/span>\u00a0(FTC)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>has already\u00a0<\/span>received over 8,400 complaints<\/span>\u00a0rega<\/span>rding\u00a0<\/span>consumer scams<\/span>,\u00a0<\/span>and the total reported<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>consumer loss weighs in at $5.85 million<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0Here are some common scams to be on the lookout for.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Fake Shopping Websites<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Cybercriminals are quick to take advantage<\/span>\u00a0of emerging trends or\u00a0<\/span>events<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>W<\/span>e\u2019ve<\/span>\u00a0already seen numerous\u00a0<\/span>fake shopping\u00a0<\/span>web<\/span>sites clai<\/span>ming<\/span>\u00a0to\u00a0<\/span>sell<\/span>\u00a0hot ticket items\u00a0<\/span>like cleaning supplies\u00a0<\/span>that may be sold out\u00a0<\/span>elsewhere.\u00a0<\/span>In reality, these<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>credit card-collecting\u00a0<\/span>scams\u00a0<\/span>may deliver coun<\/span>terfeit goods or nothing at all.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Investment Scams<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

This same logic applies for i<\/span>nvestments\u00a0<\/span>as well<\/span>. Scammers may be posing as\u00a0<\/span>budding<\/span>\u00a0companies attempting to raise capital\u00a0<\/span>to build medical equipment. Others may be advertising\u00a0<\/span>non-existent\u00a0<\/span>hedge funds\u00a0<\/span>with guarantees of high returns post-crisis.\u00a0<\/span>Regardless of the promised deliverable,\u00a0<\/span>be sure to conduct\u00a0<\/span>sufficient<\/span>\u00a0research prior to making major investment decisions.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Miracle Cures<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

As Time reports, some sites even\u00a0<\/span>promote\u00a0<\/span>\u201c<\/span>remedies ranging from colloidal silver to cow manure<\/span><\/a>.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>Luckily, the FTC and\u00a0<\/span>Food and Drug Administration<\/span>\u00a0(FDA)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>have started cracking down on companies that issue unsupported claims about miracle cures and vaccines.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Test Kits<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

At the time of writing,\u00a0<\/span>the FDA\u00a0<\/span>has not approved the sale or distribution of any home testing kits<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span>While some of these offers have come from legitimate companies that may have relationships with testing labs, m<\/span>ost of these have since received and abided to cease and desist notices.\u00a0<\/span>Always reference official entities for guidance on testing, such as the\u00a0<\/span>CDC (<\/span>Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/span>)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>site\u00a0<\/span>here<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This doesn\u2019t mean we should halt our online purchasing<\/span>. If anything, some logistics companies are encouraging us to\u00a0<\/span>continue supporting<\/span><\/a>\u00a0our favorite small retailers\u00a0<\/span>through online purchases to keep them afloat in the uncertainty that lies ahead.\u00a0<\/span>With many new instances and flavors of cyberattacks popping up overnight, we can help you stay diligent and secure as you adapt to this shift online.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>Shop Safely Online<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

R<\/span>emember to follow the tips below to ensure your\u00a0<\/span>safe\u00a0<\/span>online shopping efforts are not in vain:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n