So that you don’t get scammed, here are tips and safe online shopping

1. Choose a Trusted Online Shopping Site

First, choose a trusted online shopping site. Currently there are so many online shopping sites that are mushrooming, of course we feel confused when we want to choose which one. Moreover, these sites provide a variety of attractive options and offers.

It would be better if you choose an online shopping site that is already trusted or has a big name. Trusted online sites are usually equipped with guaranteed security methods.

2. Understand Consumer Rights and Responsibilities

Maybe not many know, we also have to understand the rights and obligations as consumers. Sometimes because we do not understand it, we as consumers do not dare to report if we feel that we have been harmed by business actors. Even though we have the right to report it so that unpleasant incidents don’t happen again.

3. See the Online Shopping Site Policy Against Personal Data

Make sure you have read and understood it before making a transaction. Don’t let there be a point that says that the website manager may provide consumer personal data to other parties. Trusted online shopping sites usually provide maximum service, if you understand the rules that apply. There are consumer complaints service contacts, business actors’ identities, label information, usage instructions to policies regarding personal data and others.

4. Pay attention to the applicable terms and conditions

Each online shopping site certainly has terms and conditions that apply to the use of services offered by online sites. Users are advised to read carefully because it can affect the rights and obligations of users under the law.

5. Choose a Seller with a Good Reputation

Even though we shop on the biggest online sites, it is possible that there are still dishonest sellers. So the consumers are the victims. Anticipating this, you should choose a seller who has the best reputation.

Finding information about the best sellers on online sites is not difficult, because usually these online sites mark it with a sign, either star +, star or other. If a store is marked with a star+, the bigger the star, the more trusted the seller.

In addition to online shopping sites, many people also sell with social media. Now to see the reputation of this seller, just look at the testimonials of people who have shopped there. The more good testimonials the seller has a good reputation and vice versa.

6. Beware if the product is very cheap

Which consumer is not attracted by the low price of the product? When you accidentally see a product that is very cheap and in the photo it looks very good, especially if it is made of the best quality materials. Well, you have to be careful, don’t buy it right away. Because this is one of the seller’s tricks so that many people buy it.

Keep in mind, the sellers certainly do not want to lose. With low prices, of course the quality of the product materials sold is below standard, there is quality, of course there is a price to pay. Moreover, the product includes well-known brands, it is certain that the product is fake.

Because we shop online, of course we cannot see the physical condition of the product directly. Therefore we need to carefully read the description. In general, the description will explain the material, color, size and others. If it feels incomplete, you can chat with the seller first for clearer product details. Most people feel cheated or lied to because they receive orders that are not what they want. Maybe they don’t read the product description carefully.
8. See Reviews From Previous Buyers

You should pay attention to not only descriptions when buying products on online sites, you also need to pay attention to reviews from buyers. By looking at this review you can find out whether this store can be trusted or not. Don’t forget, pay attention to how many positive reviews there are. If there are many positive reviews, you can be calmer when buying products from that seller. Usually in a review, a picture of the product is also embedded, so that way you can predict what product you will get.

9. Read the Return Policy

Don’t forget to also read the return policy, because the purchased item cannot be seen physically. So there must be a guarantee if the goods received are damaged.
10. Choose the Safest Payment Method

In shopping online, using a joint account is indeed one of the safest ways because it avoids the risk of fraud. From this joint account system, the money that has been transferred will not directly reach the seller if the ordered goods have not yet reached the buyer’s hands. But the seller can only get the money when the buyer has confirmed the success of the transaction.

But when the goods do not arrive or the goods do not match, the money that has been transferred will be returned to the buyer. This joint account system is already used by major online shopping sites.

But what about online shopping on social media? You can make payments by COD (Cash On Delivery). If the goods have been received by the buyer, the buyer can immediately pay for it.

11. Use Trusted Shipping

If you shop on the biggest online sites, the shipping service used is definitely reliable. There are various kinds of delivery services that are usually used, namely J&T, JNE, SiCepat, GoSend, Ninja Express, Pos Indonesia and others. We can also see the tracking of the goods we have purchased in the application so that we can monitor their whereabouts. Now if you buy products at other online shops, make sure to ask the seller for the receipt number and track your items.
12. Be careful with social engineering

The most common fraud when shopping online is social engineering or social engineering. The perpetrators usually contact victims by claiming to be employees of online shopping sites, then they will invite buyers to transact outside the site or ask for confidential data such as PIN passwords and OTP codes. Even though the PIN password and OTP code are personal data that we should not give to anyone. Therefore, if there is something like this, don’t ever respond to it.

One of the things we can do to prevent misuse of credit card information by others is not to store credit card information in online stores. If there is a question whether you want your credit card information to be remembered or saved automatically for convenience, be sure to select “no”. Don’t forget to log out of the online site after making a transaction to prevent abuse by irresponsible people.

14. Save Proof of Transaction

A trusted online shop will provide proof of the transaction and usually via email. Before the goods arrive at home, keep the proof of the transaction carefully. If at any time there is a problem with the goods purchased, this proof of payment can be evidence.

When the package has arrived, the first thing you have to do is open and check the contents in the package. Is it in accordance with what we bought? If it doesn’t match what we bought, we can report it directly to the seller. Also make sure if the goods received are not damaged, because usually there are some packages that are damaged due to the shipping process.

It doesn’t stop there, this one thing that many may ignore is eliminating traces of data. When buying goods online, the identity of the buyer such as name, address and telephone number will be displayed in front of the package or cardboard. Well, you should delete this data first. You can cut or destroy it until it can no longer be read. This is done to avoid fraud that could be on our behalf.

Those are some tips and how to shop online safely. Make sure you follow the steps above to avoid being scammed. How are you ready to shop online?