Recognizing fake ads and fake websites
Are you being invited to visit a website offering highly attractive discounts? Are you looking for a place for summer vacations but concerned about being scammed? Here are some tips to minimize the risk of encountering a malicious advertiser.
Check advertiser's history and reviews
Do your research on social networks and search engines. No reviews? Perhaps it's better to keep shopping!
Negotiate your deposit
It's best to negotiate the lowest possible deposit at the time of purchase or booking, to reduce the risk of loss in the event of problems.
Make sure you have the advertiser's contact details
Keep proof of purchase or reservation, as well as receipts, to make it easier to exercise your rights in case of issues.
Check that you are browsing a trusted website
Some scammers pose as legitimate merchants. Here are a few clues that may indicate you are on a fraudulent website:
- You can't find the merchant's contact information on the site or in the advertisement.
- There is no exchange or refund policy.
- There is no privacy policy.
- Is the URL correct or does it look suspicious (special characters, minor changes to the company name, etc.) ?
- You are asked for your credit card number even though you are not making a purchase.
- Navigation on the site is difficult, and it contains broken links.
- The images (e.g., the merchant’s logo) are of poor quality.
Non-standard payment method
Be suspicious if you're asked to pay with a payment method that's outside the norm (cryptocurrency, gift cards).
Trust your gut instinct
Do you feel like something’s off? Does it seem too good to be true? It probably is.
