The number of purchases made online has been on the rise for years, a figure that increased significantly during the pandemic. According to a study conducted by the Peruvian Chamber of Electronic Commerce (CAPECE) sales by e-commerce they achieved 9,300 million dollars in 2021, which represents a growth of 55% compared to 2020.
For this reason, there was also an increase in cyber scams. According to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), a non-profit organization focused on advancing market confidence, in countries such as Mexico, the United States and Canada; online scams are the most reported, accounting for 37% of complaints filed in 2021 with the BBB scam tracker, and the riskiest, with 3 out of 4 victims reporting money loss. Likewise, according to figures from the National Police of Peru (PNP), an average of 45 complaints of cyber fraud are registered every day in all regions of the country. This crime represents 80% of cases handled by the High Technology Crime Investigations Division.
“Scams when shopping online are on the rise and in that sense, as PagoEfectivo we want the population to be alert so as not to fall into these situations. It is important to inform users so that they know how to avoid being victims of cyber scammers,” Pamela Peña, Head of Operation Latam at PagoEfectivo, tells Paysafe Company.
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In that sense, PagoEfectivo provides 5 tips to identify fake web pages and not fall for cyber scams.
- Research the website, marketplace or social network. Through the marketplaces, groups and digital stores of social networks, cases of fraud are also registered. For this, identify and verify that you are visiting the official page and not a fake one. If it is a little-known store, investigate their social networks, read ratings and comments from other users to find out about previous experiences.
- Always put safety first. Make sure the page has the security icon (a padlock) turned on and the URL starts with https:// (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure), an Internet communication protocol that protects the integrity and confidentiality of data between the user’s electronic device and the site.
- Beware of extreme offers. Many people decide to buy because they find incredible offers well below the actual price of the product. If so, it’s probably a scam just to hook the consumer quickly.
- Review the privacy and returns policy. All online stores, which duly comply with the regulations by law, must show their privacy and returns policy. Check that it is up to date.
- Avoid clicking on emails with offer links. If the email or message you receive presents an offer that is very good or seems suspicious, it is most likely a scam. This modality is known as phishing.
If you have been the victim of a scam, remember to report the page and file a complaint with the PNP’s High-Tech Crime Investigations Division.
