How do I prevent online scams?
Unfortunately, it is happening more and more often: people are falling victim to online scams. This does not only happen via malicious web shops, but also via Whatsapp fraud, social media scams or data theft. This is largely because our lives are increasingly taking place online. This obviously has advantages, but it also makes us vulnerable to malicious people who are looking for money or data.
Data theft in particular is a relatively new phenomenon in the online landscape. Many people have not yet fully realised that fraudsters or hackers are not always after money, but increasingly after data and/or identities and email addresses. Sometimes more can be done with these than with stolen money. It is important to be aware of this when making online purchases or arranging other things online.
But what can I do myself to ensure that I am not duped by online fraudsters? In any case, we advise you to be vigilant. You can often sense that something is not quite right or that a website does not look quite right. If you have a bad feeling about it, make sure you do extra research before you finalise your order or leave your details. This will help you avoid regretting any hasty decisions.
The first indication of a secure website is the lock icon in the browser. These days it is compulsory for websites to establish a secure connection when sending data. Unfortunately, not all websites adhere to this and even malicious websites often do not have a secure connection. So the padlock in your browser is really something to take seriously. You can also recognise it on the domain name, which says HTTPS instead of the old HTTP. Always pay attention to this and do not send data or make a payment if this is not properly arranged!
In many countries, there are also seals of approval that check websites and sometimes also collect reviews. You can often check this type of trustmark on a website or in an app. That way you know for sure that the company is affiliated with the trustmark and you can read what the trustmark stands for. This usually offers no guarantee, you cannot turn to the trustmark if something goes wrong, but it is a good way to at least filter out rogue websites.
Also pay attention to whether you are ordering from a webshop in your own country or one that is actually very far away, in Asia for example. This is not necessarily a problem, but it often makes it more difficult to contact the seller if something has gone wrong or a delivery has not arrived. Especially if it turns out that it was a rogue web shop, it is very difficult to do anything about it. It is also best to check the domain name of the webshop. Sometimes there are fake webshops active that change one letter in a domain name compared to a known company.
Finally, it is of course a good idea to check out the reviews of a company before you do business with them. Make sure that these reviews are independent and that they are written by real customers or users. Only then can you read real experiences on which you can base your decision. It is not our intention to scare you into doing business online, but we do recommend that you always stay on your toes to avoid disappointment!
