It is probable to buy almost something over the internet these days. Unfortunately, scammers can use the unknown nature of the internet to rip off unsuspecting shoppers.
Scammers can pretend to be selling a product frequently very cheaply just so they can steal your credit card or bank account details. Likewise, they may seize your money but send you a defective or worthless product as an alternative or even nothing at all. (Xanax)
Most online auction sites put a lot of endeavor into spotting scammers, which is why scammers will often try to acquire people to make a transaction outside the auction site. They may claim that the winner of an auction that you were bidding in has pulled out, and then offer the item for sale to you. Once they have your money, you will never hear from them again and the auction site will not be able to help you.
Another common trick is for an online sale to be rigged by the scammers. If you are selling a product, the scammer can enter a low proposal followed by a very high bid under another name. Just before the auction closes, the high bid will be withdrawn and the scammer’s low bid will win. If you are buying a product, the scammer can arrange for ‘dummy bidders’ to boost the price up.
Other online shopping scams involve the sale of a product such as a miracle cure or weight loss product that does not live up to its claims. It can be very complex to get your money back in these circumstances, particularly if the other party is based overseas.
If you purchase or sell online, you should also be alert of cheque overpayment scams.