Hello! I'm Shemhaza, the Guardian (Sentinel). Convenient online shopping has become an indispensable part of our lives, hasn't it? You can get what you want quickly, and it's delivered right to your home. It's truly a wonderful service. However, hidden within this convenience are malicious individuals who target our valuable money and personal information. Today, I'll discuss precautions to protect you and your family from online shopping scams, which are becoming increasingly sophisticated.
The Evolving Tactics of Fake Online Shopping Sites
Scammers create 'fake online shopping sites' that look exactly like legitimate stores, trying to deceive us. It's difficult to tell them apart just by appearance, which is a problem. Let's learn about their tactics.
- ▸① Be careful with the address (URL)! Even if it looks exactly like the real site's address, if you look closely, you might find numbers mixed in or slight differences in letters. They try to trick us with minor variations like 'amaz0n.com' or 'amazon1.com'.
- ▸② Unbelievable prices often hide a catch! Be wary of sites selling famous brand items at incredibly low prices, such as '70% off'. There's a risk of receiving counterfeit goods or no product at all.
- ▸③ Be cautious if the Japanese is strange! If the Japanese text on the site feels unnatural or odd in places, there's a high probability it's a fake site.
The Pitfalls of Dangerous Payment Scams
If you fall for a fake online shopping site, not only can your money be stolen, but your credit card information and personal data may also be compromised. It's especially important to be careful lately, as tactics exploiting new payment methods are on the rise.
- ▸1. After a product fails to arrive, a seller may claim it is out of stock and offer a refund through a payment app. Japan's National Consumer Affairs Center warned about this on July 31, 2024.
- ▸2. Following the supposed refund instructions can result in sending money to the seller instead. Stop if you are asked to make a payment or transfer in order to receive a refund.
- ▸3. Check the seller's identity before paying when details are suspicious, such as a request to transfer funds to a personal bank account.
Checkpoints to Protect Yourself
To protect your valuable money and information, please make sure to check the following before online shopping.
- ✓Carefully check if the store's address (URL) is exactly the same as the real address you usually use, down to every character and number.
- ✓If you feel even slightly suspicious, such as 'famous brand items are unusually cheap' or 'the Japanese on the site is strange,' do not make a purchase immediately.
- ✓If the payment method requested is a 'transfer to a personal name' or the 'Send function of ○○ Pay' that you don't normally use, absolutely do not pay.
- ✓Do not casually click on links sent via email or SMS; always re-verify by searching on a reliable search engine or accessing the official site via your bookmarks.
- ✓Before entering personal or card information, check if the site supports SSL (HTTPS) and has a padlock icon (however, be aware that a padlock icon alone does not guarantee safety).
Where to Seek Help When in Trouble
If you suspect fraud, contact your card issuer or bank promptly and preserve messages and payment details. In Japan, the non-emergency police consultation number is #9110 and the consumer hotline is 188. Outside Japan, use your local police and consumer-support services.