How To Get It Right When Shopping Online

As more and more Kenyans are embracing online shopping, more and more scam artists are getting into the Kenyan online space. That is why you need to be keen to prevent the loss of your hard earned cash. There will be many deals rolling out online. Some deals will be genuine while others will not be genuine. The scammers are so smart and are constantly developing inventive ways to trick you. Fortunately, there are many simple things that you can do to keep yourself safe when shopping online. Here are scams that you should watch out for if you don’t want to lose your money online;

Incredible discounts from sites that you have never heard or read about

There are many good sites in Kenya that offer genuine offers and discounts. Not all sites that offer incredible discounts want to steal from you. Unless you are dealing with a site that you have purchased something from before, or one that you fully trust because of its good reputation, do not give out your sensitive information. There are few online shops that have made a good name for themselves in Kenya over the years. This online store even allows you to pay cash on delivery or pay via Mpesa on delivery. Don’t give out your debit or credit card number to any online vendor unless you know exactly who you are dealing with. To be safer, use safe online payment method that will allow you to cancel your transaction when you suspect that you are being scammed.

Malicious emails, links or Facebook feeds

There are many ways that scammers can use to steal from you. The scammer can send you links that will download spyware designed to steal personal details and passwords. Beware of emails that are telling you that a package that you did not order has been sent to you. If a given website starts sending you malicious emails right after signing up, do not click on the link nor buy something from the site. Always check the origin of the email before you click on any link. Beware of people posting links on your Facebook page.

What to do when you think that you are being scammed

When you accidentally click on a link that downloads something that seems malicious to your computer, tablet or phone, immediately run your virus scanning program. This is even more important if you are using a tablet or phone. This is because these devices are less immune to scamware.

If you give out your credit card information to shady site, call the company that issued the card immediately to alert them about the transaction.

To be safe stick to well known sites such as Jumia when doing your online shopping. Don’t give out extensive personal information to anyone online if you not sure who you are dealing with.

I have been running an Online Businesses for over a decade. I'm constantly looking for people to share good ideas with.