Whether you hate the shopping frenzy, the lines at the checkout, the crowds around you, or the hours spent at the mall, online shopping is the obvious choice if you want to give a small Christmas gift to your loved ones, whether family or friends. You should start early; it may not be worth it to leave everything until the last minute; e-shopping saves you time more than anything else, and you don\’t have to go anywhere. Unfortunately, however, there is a downside: fraudulent sellers.
Here are some good tips on how to avoid them and not fall for them. Every e-shop should have an ID number and contact information, and the website should also have the operator\’s details. As for payment, this is perhaps the most dangerous. There should be options to pay for the order, such as credit card, cash on delivery, or payment on delivery. If the e-shop only has the option of payment by card and does not offer payment possibilities such as cash on delivery, look for another store. The seller should provide all the necessary information on the invoice so that you can charge for the order if necessary.
Your first impression should be the website itself, which should look professional. Of course, it should include the seller\’s details, phone number, email contact information, feedback, and always the terms and conditions. If any of these are not what it should be, definitely do not send money up front.
You can also check e-shops on the Internet, use comparison services and read reviews of the stores.
Be careful when looking for brand-name merchandise; if the price is obviously low, it is likely to be a copy and not authentic.
If you have doubts about the store\’s authenticity, you can also contact the CTIA website to verify the online retailer\’s existence.