How do I know if I got scammed by an online store?
Warning signs
The social media based store is very new and selling products at very low prices. The store may have limited information about delivery and other policies. An online retailer does not provide adequate information about privacy, terms and conditions of use, dispute resolution or contact details.
How to know if a website is safe: 10 steps to verify secure sites
- Check the SSL certificate.
- Double-check the domain.
- Search for a privacy policy.
- Analyze the website design.
- Verify ownership.
- Find contact information.
- Identify (and question) trust seals.
- Look for reviews.
If your online shopping purchase was a scam, here’s how to take action:
- Contact Your Payment Company. Contact your credit card company or payment platform to report suspected fraud—you may be able to get your money back.
- File an FTC Report.
- Warn Others About the Scam.
How to verify a website
- Check if the URL is misspelled. One key indicator of a fake site is a misspelled URL.
- Check for site seals.
- Look for a lock.
- Secure site vs.
- Look beyond the lock.
- Run site through a website checker.
- Additional ways to verify a website.
Warning Signs
- A product is advertised at an unbelievably low price or advertised to have amazing benefits or features that sound too good to be true.
- The other party insists on immediate payment, or payment by electronic funds transfer or a wire service.
What to do if you bought something online and got scammed?
Contact the company or bank that issued the credit card or debit card. Tell them it was a fraudulent charge. Ask them to reverse the transaction and give you your money back.
Can I get my money back if I was scammed online?
Contact your bank immediately to let them know what’s happened and ask if you can get a refund. Most banks should reimburse you if you’ve transferred money to someone because of a scam.
Can you get scammed online shopping?
According to the FTC, online shopping scams were the second most common fraud category reported by consumers in 2021 1. Online scammers are smart. Be prepared to identify potential scams with the following online shopping safety tips.
What to do if you get scammed buying something online?
Report a scam that happened with an online seller or a payment transfer system to the company’s fraud department. If you used your credit card or bank account to pay a scammer, report it to the card issuer or bank. Also report scams to the major credit reporting agencies.
Can I dispute a transaction if I got scammed?
Fraudulent charges on your bill can be disputed by calling your credit card issuer or filing a dispute online. This is typically a quick process where the issuer will cancel the credit card in question and issue a new one.
Can you call the police if you get scammed online?
If you believe you’re a victim of internet fraud or cybercrime, report it to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). Or, you can use the FBI’s online tips form. Your complaint will be forwarded to federal, state, local, or international law enforcement. You will also need to contact your credit card company.
What to do if you get scammed online shopping?
Start by securing any accounts that the scammer may have access to. Then, freeze your credit and contact your bank or financial institution and any impacted companies to alert them of the crime. Finally, you may need to file a report with your local police department and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
Can the bank refund my money if I was scammed?
Do banks reimburse stolen money? Banks and credit card companies usually reimburse stolen money, but they don’t always have to. If you lose a debit card or have it stolen and don’t report the fraud right away, it’s possible your bank won’t refund stolen money and you could be liable for some of the losses.
Can the bank refund my money if I was scammed online?
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is the regulator responsible for enforcing Regulation E, the 1978 federal rule that requires banks to repay customers if their money is stolen from a consumer account through an electronic payment initiated by another person.
What can you do if you get scammed online?
Report most common scams
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is the main agency that collects scam reports. Report the scam to the FTC online, or by phone at 1-877-382-4357 (9:00 AM – 8:00 PM, ET).
Can your bank do anything if you get scammed?
If you’ve fallen victim to a scam and lost money, here’s what you can do to try to get it back. If you made a payment with a debit or credit card, you may be able to ask your bank to help get your money back through what’s called a chargebac.