Online shopping remains one of the easiest ways to purchase everything from everyday essentials to gifts and electronics. While shopping online can save time and offer convenience, scammers are also taking advantage of consumers with counterfeit products, too-good-to be-true offers on social media platforms, and websites that collect personal information.

The Better Business Bureau® (BBB) encourages shoppers to take a few simple precautions before clicking “buy.” These habits could help protect your money and personal information.

1. Research the seller before you buy.
Look up the business on BBB.org to review BBB Business Profiles which include customer reviews, complaint history and business details.

2. Watch out for fake websites and suspicious deals.
Scammers often copy real websites or create similar-looking pages. Be cautious of extreme discounts, poor grammar, misspelled web addresses or pressure to purchase immediately. In addition, when reviewing the business’s website, make sure the business provides contact information beyond an email address, as well as privacy and return policies.

3. Check website security.
Before entering payment details, make sure the website begins with “https://” and displays a padlock icon in the address bar. These signs indicate a more secure connection.

4. Use safe payment methods.
Credit cards often offer the strongest fraud protection. Avoid paying unfamiliar sellers with gift cards, wire transfers, or payment apps.

5. Be careful with social media ads.
Many online shopping scams begin with ads on social media platforms. These ads may look professional, offer typically expensive products at steep discounts, and may even use well-known brand names, but ordering from these ads without researching the business first, may result in a product that doesn’t meet expectations, no delivery of the product or lost personal information.

6. Protect your personal information.
Use strong, unique passwords for shopping accounts, avoid making purchases on public Wi-Fi, and regularly monitor your bank and credit card statements for unusual activity.

Online shopping can be safe and convenient when consumers stay alert. Taking a few extra minutes to verify a seller and review policies can help you avoid scams and shop with confidence.

• To report or review scams, visit BBB Scam Tracker at:
  https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker for more Information
• To review this article and hyperlinked references in full, visit: https://www.bbb.org/all/online-shopping/smart-shopping-online
• For additional business news and guidance, visit:
• https://www.bbb.org