Online Scammed duped a resident in Ambala, India out of Rs 2 Lakhs (approximately $2000). The fraudster allegedly used a link and a one-time password to withdraw money (OTP). The fraudster allegedly used a link and a one-time password to withdraw money (OTP). In this case, a complaint has been filed.
The victim had ordered Rs 500 T-shirt online, but when it arrived, it was a torn suit of women. When he called the customer service number to complain, he was told that his money will be refunded. After that, the executive provided him a link. The accused then demanded information about his account, including the OTP.
The victim was first debited for Rs 1 lakh, and then another Rs 1 lakh was deducted in four transactions. It all occurred in 15 minutes, according to the victim, as reported by the media house. When the victim tried to contact the customer service representative again, his phone numbers were disconnected.
Tips to Avoid Getting Scammed When Shopping Online
- Check the identity of the seller: When shopping online, always check the website for contact information to ensure that it is legitimate. The name of the company, the address, the email address, a contact form, and a phone number should all be clearly stated. Don’t put your trust in a website just because it has a European or American extension — it doesn’t necessarily guarantee it’s based in that nation.
- Always check the review: The fact that the largest online vendors, such as eBay, include a feedback section serves a clear purpose. This is done so that new customers may be sure they’re dealing with a reputable person or firm and that past transactions went well. So, when you buy something online, make sure you receive a clear opinion based on reviews.
- Don’t give too much information: Only your credit card number, address, and phone number should be required for an online purchase. You should be wary of any website that requests for additional information, such as your social security number.
- Ask for tagged photos: When buying online, there’s always a risk that the photo of the item won’t belong to the vendor and it simply taken from the internet. And what you get may be very different from what you expected when you get it. Request that the vendor send you a tagged photo as a remedy.
- Make purchases only from secure websites: Websites that do not use Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption should not be trusted. You can check it in a couple of ways: a padlock symbol should appear in your browser’s address bar, and the first letters in the address bar should change from “http” to “https,” particularly when you get to the payment step.
- Check your statements regularly: Instead of waiting for a physical bill to arrive, check your credit, debit card, and account statements on a regular basis. This is necessary to prevent any fraudulent charges and to take prompt action by calling your bank or card issuer.
- Examine the general layout of the website: Examine the seller’s website carefully to ensure that it appears professional. The majority of fraudulent websites are oddly designed, with spelling errors, low-quality product images, and so on. Also, be wary of overuse of terms like “cheap” and “outlet”; professional sellers refer to such items as “excellent offers.”
- Read websites privacy policy: Companies with a good reputation will always have a privacy policy page on their website. It’s critical to do your homework to ensure that the firm will only use your information for the purchase and nothing else. Even the most reputable companies can use your email for marketing purposes, and some may share your information with third parties.
Even though buying online is quick, easy and convenient, the experience can be disastrous if you don’t pay attention to the signs. To avoid getting caught up in a scam, always look out for the signs, and remember if you cannot see the HTTPS:// symbol, don’t buy