Online shopping is a quick and easy way to get your hands on the things you want without having to leave the house or stand in lines. But if you’re new to online shopping, it can be challenging to know which sites are safe and trustworthy and which sites might try to take advantage of you.
It’s not uncommon for online shoppers to encounter fraudulent websites that appear legitimate but are set up by cybercriminals hoping to steal your personal information or money. Anytime you’re making an online purchase, you must exercise caution and understand how to tell if an online store is legit.
Fortunately, there are several ways that you can identify whether or not an e-commerce site is safe before you make a purchase. Keep reading for some helpful tips on how do I know if an online store is legit.
Online Stores Background
Online Stores
An online store is a commercial website that sells goods or services online. E-commerce (electronic commerce or online commerce) is a type of business transaction wherein goods or services are traded or sold over the internet.
E-commerce is a broad term that can refer to a wide variety of activities, services, and business systems that trade or sell goods or services over the internet, computer networks, or other computer-connected systems. With more people shopping online these days, it’s important to understand what an online store is and how to tell if an online store is legit.
Online stores offer many advantages over brick-and-mortar stores, including lower prices, wider selection, better service, and the convenience of shopping from your home or office whenever you want.
Popular Online Stores
An online store may be a great way to save money on items that you need, but it’s important to know how I know if an online store is legit before you make a purchase. One quick way to do this is to look up the store on a site like Scamadvisor.com or The Federal Trade Commission’s online complaint center.
Some of the most popular online stores include Amazon, Overstock, Newegg, and eBay. With online shopping becoming increasingly more common, it can be challenging to know which sites are safe and trustworthy and which sites might try to take advantage of you.
Fortunately, there are several ways that you can identify whether or not an e-commerce site is safe before you make a purchase.
Importance Of Online Stores
Research has shown that many people are increasingly turning to online stores for their purchases instead of brick-and-mortar stores. This is especially true for people who don’t live near a store or people who can’t easily access stores due to medical issues.
Online shopping is a quick and easy way to get your hands on the things you want without having to leave the house or stand in lines. But if you’re new to online shopping, it can be challenging to know which sites are safe and trustworthy and which sites might try to take advantage of you. Online shopping has become the norm for many people, and it’s a great way to save time and money.
These days, people can find almost anything they need online, including clothing, groceries, makeup, and even furniture. The internet has made it possible to buy almost anything you could ever want without having to leave your house.
Online Reviews And Online Stores
Another way to tell if an online store is legit is to look at its online reviews. Most e-commerce websites will have reviews posted by previous customers who have purchased products from the site.
If a website has a lot of positive reviews, it’s a good sign. If a website has a lot of negative reviews, you may want to avoid purchasing from it. Online reviews can also be a great way to learn more about the store, such as the types of products it sells, how reliable the service is, and the quality of the items being sold.
You can also use online reviews to compare different websites to see which one is the best fit for you. If you notice that an e-commerce site has very few or negative reviews, it may be a sign that the store isn’t legitimate.
7 Tips To Know If An Online Store Is Legit
1. Check The URL
The very first thing you should do is double-check the URL of the site you’re browsing. Does the site URL look legitimate? Does it end with “.com” or “.co.uk”? If not, then the chances are there’s something fishy going on. Avoid any site that doesn’t have “.com” or “.co.uk” in the URL.
You should also make sure the URL is not misleading. For example, if you are browsing an eCommerce site that sells basketball shoes and the URL of the website is “www.basketball-store.org”, then that raises a red flag.
2. Look For SSL Certification
Another important thing to look out for is whether or not the eCommerce site has an “HTTPS” in the URL or if it has a “lock” icon beside it. This means that you are shopping on a secured website. If the website you are browsing does not have an “HTTPS” or a “lock” icon, then that is a major red flag.
You should avoid making any purchases from these sites as they are likely not secure. You can also look for SSL certificates as another way to know if an eCommerce site is legit.
SSL certificates are used to encrypt data between two systems and they’re usually used on eCommerce websites to protect sensitive data like credit card information or login credentials. This means that the website is secure and you can safely make a purchase.
3. Research The Company
Another way to know if an online store is legit is to research the company behind the site. There are a few different ways you can do this. You can use a search engine like Google to find information about the company.
You can also visit the Better Business Bureau’s website to see if there have been any customer complaints against the company.
Finally, you can also visit the “About” section of the website. This section usually contains information about the company like the address, email, and phone number. If the information you find matches up with other sources, then there is a good chance that the company is legitimate.
4. Stick To Trusted Brands
If you’re shopping on an eCommerce site that doesn’t sell any well-known brands, then that is a red flag. You should always stick to trusted brands when browsing eCommerce sites.
You can use websites like Amazon, eBay, or Shopify to find trustworthy brands. Keep in mind that even large and trusted brands can experience problems from time to time.
You should also always check the website URL and SSL certification as outlined above.
5. Read The Reviews
If the eCommerce site you are browsing has reviews, then you should read them. Look for signs of red flags such as an abundance of negative reviews or a lack of reviews altogether.
If you find that the website you are browsing has mostly positive reviews, then there is a good chance that the site is legit. Keep in mind that even legitimate websites can receive negative reviews from time to time.
6. Watch Out For Red Flags
There are a few things that you should look out for when browsing eCommerce sites. If you see an offer that sounds too good to be true, then it probably is.
If you see a website that offers things like free shipping or a money-back guarantee, then that is a good sign that the website is legitimate. You should also be wary of websites that ask you to enter your credit card information or a large amount of money upfront.
You should avoid sites that don’t offer a secure checkout. Most eCommerce websites will offer a secure checkout as well as an option to pay by card.
7. Pay By Card Only
Another good way to know if an online store is legit is to pay by card only. Avoid making any payments via wire transfer or cash-like services such as Western Union.
If you can’t find any information about how you can pay using a credit card, then this is a major red flag. You should avoid purchasing from this website as there is a high chance that it is a scam.
8. Double Check The Information
Finally, you should double-check the information that you find about the eCommerce site. Are the company details correct? Is the email address legitimate? Is the phone number correct?
If everything checks out, then you can rest assured that the website is legitimate. If you notice any discrepancies, then this is a major red flag that the website is not safe to shop at.
Conclusion
Online shopping has become a popular way to purchase goods and services. However, it’s important to be cautious while shopping online to avoid falling victim to scams or fraud.
Following the tips to know if an online store is legitimate is important if you want to avoid buying from fake websites. While there are many legitimate online stores, there are also many fraudulent websites that are designed to look like online stores.
If you want to be sure that you’re buying from a legitimate website, be sure to research the store and look for signs that indicate it may be fraudulent. One way to identify whether or not an online store is legitimate is to check the URL, SSL certification, and reviews. You should also look out for red flags such as an offer that sounds too good to be true or an option to pay by card only.
Double-checking the information will also help you to identify whether or not an online store is legitimate.
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