Jasmine Birtles
Your money-making expert. Financial journalist, TV and radio personality.
5 Things to Check Before Clicking “Buy”
Moneymagpie Team
7th Mar 2025
Online shopping presents convenience, letting us skip the queues and long drives to shopping malls. Not only is it practical, but it is also often cheaper than brick-and-mortar stores, with some bonuses and discounts exclusive to online buyers.
But we’re pretty sure that most people have encountered some odd online stores that showcase unrealistically good deals or offer exclusive items that can’t be found anywhere else. Usually, such stores are potential scam websites that intrigue shoppers, encourage them to buy, but never deliver the items to their doorsteps.
So, although shopping online is a great experience, every user should keep these five things in mind before checking out. Otherwise, you might fall for an online store scam.
- Seller Information & Customer Feedback
- Product Reviews
- Return Policy
- Payment Options
- Security Preferences
1. Seller Information & Customer Feedback
Imagine you’ve been searching for a leather bag for a long time and suddenly find an amazing deal online that’s four times cheaper than what you saw at a regular store. It sounds almost too good to be true, right? Well, it most likely is.
To be completely certain you’re not being scammed with a fake product, take a closer look at the seller’s information. Does the website look legitimate and professional? Do they have good customer reviews on a real feedback platform?
Usually, the biggest telltale signs of a scammy online store are in its design. Stores created as scams may refine one or two pages to look legitimate while leaving the rest of the site bare-bones. So, before making a purchase, browse the online store to see whether each listed item has refined and detailed descriptions, is free of grammar mistakes, and includes information about their privacy policy.
If you end up buying the leather bag without this quick assessment, you’ll be sharing sensitive information like your bank account details, home address, full name, and phone number with sketchy website owners.
2. Product Reviews
As we have already mentioned, customer reviews can indicate whether online businesses are legit or not. However, don’t trust feedback on the seller’s website alone since it can be fake. Look up customer reviews on forums or platforms like Quora and Reddit to see what others say. Be cautious of stores with perfect ratings or no reviews, and watch for patterns in both very negative and positive comments.
3. Return Policy
The seller’s return policy depends on their store and the items being sold, but most online retailers have a 30-day return period. If the seller does not accept returns or allows returns for less than seven days, it’s a clear red flag.
Likewise, check the fees and shipping costs for possible returns—some can cost you more than purchasing a new item. And if shipping is more expensive than the item itself, that’s a bad sign.
4. Payment Options
Different online stores offer varying payment options, with some being significantly safer than others. Therefore, it’s important to check what payment methods an online store accepts before browsing.
Some shops on the internet only accept credit cards. Others prefer PayPal or even cryptocurrency. So, learn more about the store, read the company’s payment policy, and find out if their payment methods are secure. If you’re still unsure after researching, inquire with their management about any payment fees and other payment details before checking out.
This step is key since after spending lots of time picking items, you might feel pushed to use unsafe payment methods just to avoid wasting your effort.
5. Security Preferences
In case you are planning to become a frequent online shopper, you should know how important it is to protect your personal information. When visiting an online store, check if the website is encrypted and safe. The same goes for any payments on the website. Do not give out any more personal data than necessary to make a purchase.
When registering an account at a store, use a password manager to create and securely store a strong password. Additionally, turn on a VPN while shopping online through a public Wi-Fi network. This will allow you to protect your data and funds from bad actors trying to intercept them.
Noticed that your sensitive information is getting used for targeted ads? Then, use the most trusted and best data removal services to check if any of your buying habits or identifiable information has leaked to marketers. They will also help you remove it to minimize fraud risks.
Purchasing With Confidence
Shopping online safely is totally possible if you stick to these five tips we talked about above. Always research the seller, check out product reviews, read the return policy, study the shipping time and cost, choose stores with reliable payment options, and stay secure when buying items on the internet. Now, you can confidently shop online and get that item you’ve been eyeing.
Disclaimer: MoneyMagpie is not a licensed financial advisor and therefore information found here including opinions, commentary, suggestions or strategies are for informational, entertainment or educational purposes only. This should not be considered as financial advice. Anyone thinking of investing should conduct their own due diligence.
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