28 October 2021
Written by Lizzie Quarterman
Online shopping is a very convenient way to get everything you need, but it’s not without its downsides. Identity thefts and ruses by cybercriminals to dupe consumers out of money are growing ever more sophisticated. Online scammers succeeded in defrauding UK consumers of £2.5 million in 2020, so here are 7 questions to ask yourself while you’re doing your shopping:
Because it probably is. While there are always exceptions to the rule, it’s always good to be careful and avoid getting swept up in the thrill of the moment.
Something to keep in mind: if this item wasn’t on such a seemingly amazing offer, would you still want to buy it?
If it’s not a brand you know and trust, do some research before you buy anything. Check sites like Trustpilot to see what the reviews say. (You can find out what people say about Complete Care Shop here.)
One thing you can do is to check that there's a locked padlock alongside the web address; this shows the connection to the website is secure and gives a degree of reassurance that you're not on a fake site.
If it’s an ad on Facebook, you can also check the comments to see what others have said – their views may help you avoid a nasty shock.
This depends entirely on what you’re looking to buy, but you may want to check to see if the seller is part of any professional bodies. For example, we are members of the British Healthcare Trades Association (BHTA). As members, we are trusted sellers bound by a strict code of practice that means we will never try to force you into buying something you don’t need. You can find out more about the BHTA code of practice here.
It’s easy to be charmed by a great product photo or advert but that doesn’t always tell you everything you need to know. It could be that the product is actually a different colour to what is shown or even a different size to what you’re expecting! You may even need to buy extra accessories for it to do everything the advert claims, but without reading the description you wouldn’t know.
Product descriptions are designed to make the product sound amazing and this may not always be entirely true. If there are any product reviews, do read them to get an idea of what other customers think and discover how the product works when it’s in use.
Start by looking at the most recent reviews to see what it’s currently like, as a review from 2013 may sound great but most likely will no longer be relevant. You may find it useful to check the 1-star or 3-star reviews too, to get an idea of what the downsides may be – if there are any.
If you’re buying a present for a loved one, the last thing you want to find out after you’ve placed the order is that it won’t arrive for another four weeks. It could be the perfect item but if it doesn’t arrive when you need it, it’s of no help. Check the delivery information to find out what delivery options are available and how much they cost, so you can factor this into your costs.
Even if you’ve shopped with a brand before, it’s still worth checking the delivery information in case there are any anticipated delays due to busy periods or exceptional circumstances.
You can find all our delivery information here.
Not all returns policies are created equally. Some allow only a very short window of time for a return, some offer free returns, some won’t accept a return at all depending on what you’ve ordered.
Check before you buy just so you know where you stand if you end up not wanting to keep what you’ve been sent. You can find our returns policy here.
For larger purchases online over £100, consider using your credit card to make the payment, as payments over £100 and under £30,000 should be protected for free by your card provider. This is known as Section 75 – the Money Saving Expert website has more information on this and how it works.
Banks have been working hard to try to cut down on the number of people losing money from scams. One of the things you may have noticed happening when you're shopping online is that your bank may be texting or emailing you to ask you to confirm a purchase. Some send you a password or a code and ask you to enter it using your bank account card reader or on an authentication app on your mobile phone. This is known as two-factor authentication (2FA; sometimes known as two-step verification), as it uses a second device, and is a useful way to try to help avoid people losing money should their card details be stolen. But it isn't infallible, which is why it's important to keep in mind the questions above and be as confident as you can be that you're shopping on a legitimate site before purchasing.
No one wants to get caught out online, so please remain vigilant and remember to bear in mind the questions above when shopping to help make sure you've found a genuine deal and not a dud.
See the Government’s Cyber Aware campaign for further advice on how to protect yourself online; the National Cyber Security Centre also helps you deal with common cyber problems and you can report a suspicious website to them. If you do become a victim of fraud, get in touch with Action Fraud or call them on 0300 123 2040.
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