Online shopping: how not to become a victim of fraudsters
Cyber police once again remind citizens of the dangers when shopping on the Internet. In order not to become a victim of fraudsters during online shopping, you should follow the rules of payment security:
- Do not follow dubious links. Attackers can visually disguise their phishing sites as real ones.
Be sure to check the URL of the store. The link of fraudulent sites is slightly different from the address of the real site. Also, the site must support the secure https protocol (indicated at the beginning of the URL).
- Do not enter bank card data on dubious sites.
If you do not know the online store, do not rush to pay for the purchase immediately. First, check the seller, for example, by reading reviews about him. In addition, most sellers allow you to make a down payment when the goods arrive at the post office. There you can check the order and pay if the order suits you.
- Do not communicate bank card details to third parties by phone or through messengers.
The same applies to confirmation codes from the bank and balances on your accounts. This information, along with your phone number and first and last name, will allow attackers to gain access to your online banking and steal money from accounts.
To pay for purchases on the Internet, cyber police recommend having a separate bank card and replenishing it for specific purchases.
- Make sure that 3D Secure technology is connected to your cards.
Most banks connect it to their products by default. This feature aims to further identify the cardholder making the purchase or transfer of funds to reduce the risk of card fraud. But payments with this technology should be supported by the online store where you make a purchase. If the online seller does not support 3D Secure, then the transaction is carried out in the standard mode without entering a confirmation code.
- It is not recommended to make payment by entering payment card details. Using public Wi-Fi for this.
In addition to luring personal information in order to lure funds, fraudsters sell fictitious goods. In this case, their main task is to receive partial or full payment. After that, the attackers stop communicating, and the victim is left without money and goods.
Cyber police are advised to be wary of big discounts or offers. You should research the market before buying in order to find out the cost of a similar product from other sellers and understand the general pricing policy.
More information about payment security rules can be found on the NBU website.
National Police of Ukraine
