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Will Scammers Destroy Online Shopping?

Will Scammers Destroy Online Shopping?

The digital revolution is a headache for most people. There is no privacy, no security, telephones are intrusions into the home or office for scammers and robo-marketing calls. Endless hacking and disruption of services. Essential public services closed down. How long before a hacker succeeds in firing off a nuclear ICBM? The amount of money spent on cybersecurity, which doesn’t exist, is huge.

The digital revolution is a plague on humanity. The dumbshit nerds who came up with it had no idea of the unintended consequences. Or perhaps they were pleased by all the troubles their invention was going to inflict.

Wells Fargo Warns:

How to spot an online shopping scam

4 signs to look for:

Over the past year we’ve changed our habits and taken more of our shopping online, and scammers have taken notice. Scammers are creating legitimate-looking sites using stolen images and fake assurances to take advantage of people purchasing from unfamiliar sellers. Some are even preying on people looking to buy a pet or other big-ticket item, touting fake offers for “contactless delivery” that could leave customers empty-handed and out hundreds or thousands of dollars.

Scammers have your online shopping on their radar
Here’s what to look for:

Unreal deals. Scammers may lure you in with a deeply discounted offer that seems too good to be true, only to tack on fees or fake COVID-related costs once you make the first payment.

Unknown sellers. Anyone can set up an online shop or post an ad on social media. If you can, have a video call with the seller to meet them and see what you’re buying, especially if it’s a big-ticket item like a used car or pet. If you are looking for a pet, please consider adopting locally to help ensure a safe experience.

Pressure to buy. Be wary of any seller who pressures you to buy right away or asks you to pay using a digital payment service such as Zelle®, wire transfers, or even gift cards — none of which provide payment protection. Use a credit card if you can.

Bad reviews. Do an online search on the seller, product, and related scams by using terms like “review,” “complaint,” or “scam”. No reviews can be a red flag too. Get a second opinion from a friend or family member.

See scam stories: https://www.wellsfargo.com/privacy-security/fraud/bank-scams/online-shopping-scams [1]
Be aware: Payment apps, gift cards, and wire transfers do not have protection like a credit card or debit card, so you may not get your money back once it’s been sent.

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