The FBI warns of criminals targeting online shoppers and sellers during the holiday season. In 2022, the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center received reports from nearly 12,000 victims nationally of non-payment or non-delivery scams, resulting in more than $73 million in losses. Criminals use a multitude of methods to entice and target victims intending to purchase or sell an item online.
Follow these tips to protect yourself and your business when shopping or selling online:
- Think before you click. Do not click on links in an unsolicited email or provide personal or financial information.
- Ensure websites are secure. A secure URL should begin with “https” rather than “http.”
- Verify the legitimacy of all parties involved: Look at consumer reviews and social media pages, and check with the Better Business Bureau.
- Be wary of online transactions that use unconventional payment methods such as wire transfers, virtual currency, gift cards or cash.
- Check your bank or credit card statement regularly and never save your payment information in online accounts.
- Limit the use of public Wi-Fi.
- Ensure that your anti-virus and malware software is current and block pop-up windows.
- As always, if the deal sounds too good to be true, whether you are buying or selling an item, chances are it is a scam.
