Product and service scams
When buying or selling products and services online, always check that you are paying the right person or business.
Scammers will set up fake websites or profiles on real retailer websites. They will then offer the product or service at an incredibly good price. They also post fake ads and fake reviews. They may use stolen logos, .com.us domain names, and stolen U.S. business numbers . These scams are hard to spot.
Scammers also pose as businesses you know and trust. They then send you fake bills or by changing the payee details on invoices that you expect.
Steps you can take to protect yourself
Stop and check that you are buying from a real store and not a fake website.
Be wary of new stores on social media that sell products at super low prices.
Check that the site you want to buy from has information about privacy, terms and conditions of use, dispute resolution and contact details, as well as secure payment services such as PayPal or credit cards.
Check the details
Search for the official website of the organization. Don't assume that the first search result that comes up in an Internet search is the real site.
Double-check that invoices are from suppliers you trust and that bank details are correct.
When using PayId or bank transfers, make sure the name matches the person you think you are paying. When making a bank transfer, some banks will confirm that the payee's details match.
How to check a website
Type the website and the words "scam" or "review" into a search engine and scrutinize the search results
Check the website URL for red flags, such as
Multiple dashes or symbols in the domain name
Domain names that mimic businesses, such as Ap9le
Domains that are not US business domains ending in .com or .com.us
Check the contact page. No contact information indicates that it's probably a scam
Check the contact information, such as the address on the online map
Use an ICANN query search to see when the site was registered.
Recent registrations may indicate that the site is not trustworthy
If the website is .com.us, use the US Domain Name Authority website to see which company or trademark registered the site.
Compare the actual company that registered the website with the information displayed on the website
