Summary
As spring brings in seasonal shopping, scams targeting online shoppers have become more common. Financial expert Tobias Robinson warns that many shoppers fall for scams, often involving fake sellers, incorrect bank detail requests, and counterfeit products.
Key Facts
- Scammers target online shoppers more during big shopping events like Mother's Day.
- Over seven million adults in the U.K. experienced scams last year, many while shopping online.
- In the U.S., Pew Research Center reports about 36% of adults had issues with non-delivered or counterfeit online purchases.
- Common scam tactics include fake seller profiles on social media and fake "order issue" emails.
- Fake reviews and "HOT DEAL!" scams are used to mislead buyers into making purchases.
- Robinson advises using verified channels and checking reviews from multiple retailers to avoid scams.
- Scams often pressure customers for quick purchases by mimicking trending or viral products online.
- It's advised to only buy gift cards from trusted sources to avoid discount scams.
