‘Think before you click:’ Protect yourself from online shopping scams
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Tis the season for shopping — and scamming.
More than 90% of Americans shop online, making it a popular and lucrative way for scammers to take your money.
A Pew Research Center survey shows more than a third of Americans say they’ve been a victim of an online shopping scam, whether it’s a counterfeit product or an item that’s never delivered.
“It’s such a busy time. And we’re out there, busy, maybe a little distracted, and we’re buying more,” said Linda Ezuka, executive director of the Hawaii Bankers Association.
Federal Trade Commission data shows Hawaii consumers were defrauded of more than $61 million last year, mostly while they’re shopping online, through social media ads, Facebook marketplace scams and fake retail websites that trick shoppers into giving up their bank and credit card information.
Criminals are also targeting your email subscriptions.
“They’re impersonating businesses,” Ezuka said. “So while you thought that you were purchasing something online from a reputable business, it may not be.”
She advises shoppers to look carefully at all URLs and make sure there aren’t typos or odd characters on the website URL or some of the solicitations sent via email.
Look at the sender’s information and make sure it truly is the vendor that you are purchasing from, she added.
When it comes to online shopping scams, a majority of victims are under the age of 30, not kupuna.
If a deal is too good to be true, it probably is. Red flags include extreme discounts or limited time deals that pressure you to buy now.
“I would recommend to pause and to maybe just, get out of the loop of social and go to the source website and go from there that might be just double check and see if they’re still having that 40% or 50% discount to see if it’s legitimate before purchasing on social channels,” Ezuka said.
Another tip — use secure payment methods like a credit card that offers fraud protection.
If you do end up being a victim of a scam, don’t be ashamed — report it to the bank and the police.
“Call the number on the back of your card, whether that be a debit card or a credit card, and call and explain the scenario, and then they will help you either pend the transaction if it hasn’t completely posted yet, if it’s early enough, or start to work with you on putting a hold,” Ezuka said.
“The sooner you report it, the more that they can address it, right? So our tellers, for example, are very well trained on spotting fraud,” she added, “and really trying to ensure that we protect people’s deposits and their money.”
Experts say the best defense is to be skeptical of any deal, especially if it looks too good to be true.
“Slow down, take a breath, think before you click, and before you purchase, really ensure that you know about the vendor you’re transacting with, and follow up immediately if you suspect fraud,” Ezuka said.
Look out for more tips from the Hawaii Bankers Association’s fraud awareness campaign this month.
For more ways to protect your money, AARP is holding a Town Hall on December 13th at 9 a.m. Call 866-654-9490 toll-free to join the call or visit the AARP Hawaii Facebook page and ask questions in the comment section.
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