More and more of us are choosing this way to buy various kinds of goods. This year too, many people, instead of going to shops and choosing gifts, will use the services of auction platforms and online stores. Police officers advise what to look out for and remember in order not to be scammed.
Above all:
- beware of special offers – an excessively low price for a relatively expensive item should particularly raise our suspicions
- read the offer carefully and study the description, as it should provide detailed information about the item that interests you
- look closely at the photographs – if they are of poor quality or were downloaded from the manufacturer's website, it is worth asking the seller to send more photographs showing details of the item that interests us
- the seller should also specify in the offer the available payment methods for the item and the delivery options
- it is also important to choose sellers who are trusted by their customers and to use reputable online stores that have been operating on the market for some time
- it is also worth checking the company or person from whom we intend to buy the product, including whether they can be contacted easily
- online sellers should also provide consumers with reliable, truthful and complete information about the essential terms of the agreement: complaint procedures, goods and services offered electronically, as well as the name and address of the store, if they operate one.
If, however, you have already been defrauded, you should:
- inform the security administrators of the relevant service and the nearest police unit as soon as possible
- keep all documents related to the transaction, i.e. proof of the bank transfer, email correspondence, etc., as well as all correspondence with the seller
- keep records of conversations conducted via internet messengers, chats and SMS messages,
- in the event of fraud on an online auction, compile details such as the date and auction number, its subject and the bid amount, the fraudster's nickname and email address, as well as information about how the seller was contacted and how the payment was made.
The officers wish everyone only successful and safe transactions.