How to stay safe when shopping online

Online shopping and crimes involving goods for sale on social media are increasing at an alarming rate.

These crimes target social media users who conduct business through ‘Marketplace’ and WhatsApp sales groups.

According to the South African Banking Information Centre (SABRIC), people should stay informed about the latest banking scams and fraudster activities, to avoid falling prey to these crimes.

The age-old idiom rings true: ‘When something seems too good to be true, it usually is,’ and community members must be on alert as to how to differentiate between a genuine deal and one that is advertised to lure you into a trap.

The Southern African Fraud Prevention Service (SAFPS) advises online shoppers to follow their instinct in general, especially when in doubt about pursuing a deal.

Also, if a buyer suspects that an online advertisement is fraudulent, they should conduct a ‘reverse image search’ on Google. This will reveal the original source of the image.

Online scammers sometimes use genuine images obtained from another site to use with their fraudulent advertisement.

Furthermore, buyers should be wary of buying items ‘on the street’. Meaning, criminals will pressurise unsuspecting victims to meet up in a remote location which might enable them to ‘get away’ easily with the crime.

Always remain vigilant if you or your loved ones are planning on buying or selling items online.

Basic Marketplace safety tips:
Not all deals have ‘hidden agendas’, but the following basic safety tips should always be considered before buying or selling online:
• Avoid communicating with buyers or sellers outside Facebook
• Don’t share your personal information such as banking details
• If you are meeting a buyer or seller in person, arrange to meet in a public and well-lit area or at the nearest police station
• Do more research on the buyer or seller by visiting their private Facebook profile. A ‘red flag’ is raised when his or her profile was only recently created.

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