Stay Safe: Essential Tips to Protect Yourself from E-commerce Scams


November 20, 2023

We are here to dish all the inside secrets on how to keep your cash and details safe while scoring sweet deals online. Shopping online is mad convenient these days, but you gotta be savvy so scammers don’t take you for a ride.

These sneaky scammers are always coming up with new tricks to try and pull one over on unsuspecting shoppers like you. Let us break it down so you know what to watch out for:

Phishing emails are one of the big ones to look out for. You might get messages that look totally legit from companies you shop with, but it’s just a scam to get you to click and hand over your password or other important info. Don’t take the bait!

Fake websites are another common scam. Scammers design sites to look just like a real online shop you trust. But if you try to buy something, they just take your money and run without sending you any products. Lame!

Some other scumbags hack into real accounts by stealing login details. Then they can go on a shopping spree with your hard-earned cash or lock you out of your own account. Not cool at all!

Overpayment scams are sneaky too. A buyer pays way too much for something small with a bad check or fake transfer. When the real money never shows up, you’re out the cash or product. Ouch!

We got you covered on how to spot scams and shop like a pro:

-- Use two-factor authentication whenever you can so hackers have a way tougher time stealing your login details.

-- Change up your passwords a lot and make them as random as possible. The longer the better to confuse the crooks!

-- When paying, choose secure options like credit cards if you can. They offer more protection if some shady stuff goes down after a purchase.

-- Keep an eagle eye on all the activity in your accounts. If you see any weird purchases right away, you can get your bank involved faster.

-- Be the first to know about new online shopping scams by following cybersecurity experts on social media. Staying informed keeps you one step ahead.

Some other tips: Only shop on sites that use SSL encryption, see that little padlock icon in the URL bar? Use a VPN too to encrypt your browsing and hide your IP address from shady sorts. And join online groups to swap safety tips with fellow shoppers who’ve got your back.

Most importantly, listen to your spidey senses! If an offer seems too good to be true, walk away. Protecting your money and info is way more important than scoring some sketchy “deal.”

By keeping these tips in mind, you can shop safely and fearlessly. But holler if you ever need more guidance! I’m always here to dish shopping survival tips and help my friends avoid scummy scams. Just remember to use your noodle and you’ll end up with awesome new stuff, not just empty pockets.

A reading about all these tricky online shopping scams, you’re probably wondering -- how can I protect myself without becoming a cybersecurity expert?

Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. The smartest thing you can do is partner with a professional IT security company like Appsonnet.

Appsonnet’s team of experts monitors for the latest e-commerce threats 24/7. They stay up-to-date on all the new tricks scammers are using so that you don’t have to.

Appsonnet can provide services like:

-- Anti-phishing monitoring to detect fake emails and sites designed to steal your personal information.

-- Fraud analysis to identify suspicious transactions and prevent account takeovers before they happen.

-- Security audits to find and fix vulnerabilities in your online accounts.

-- Employee cybersecurity training to keep your whole team scam-savvy.

Head to Appsonnet’s website to request a free consultation and security assessment today. Their experts are standing by to create a custom protection plan tailored to your small business’s needs and budget.

Don’t leave your company vulnerable to e-commerce scams and data breaches. With Appsonnet as your ally, you can defend your business and keep hackers at bay.





Contact Appsonnet today to find out what we can do for your business and technology.
Email Us or call 1.416.362.8867