The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) released a warning for online shoppers in the United States ahead of Black Friday and Cyber Monday on the need to watch out for online scams and frauds. Google Chrome, Safari and Edge, which control 95% of the US browser market, should follow a "checklist" to stay safe from scamsters during the festive season, the agency said.
Among the precautionary measures mentioned in the article released on the official website of FBI were:
- Never wire money directly to a seller.
- Avoid paying for items with pre-paid gift cards. In these scams, a seller will ask you to send them a gift card number and PIN. Instead of using that gift card for your payment, the scammer will steal the funds, and you’ll never receive your item.
- Check each website’s URL to make sure it’s legitimate and secure. A site you’re buying from should have https in the web address. If it doesn’t, don’t enter your information on that site.
- If you’re purchasing from a company for the first time, do your research and check reviews.
- Verify the legitimacy of a buyer or seller before moving forward with a purchase. If you’re using an online marketplace or auction website, check their feedback rating. Be wary of buyers and sellers with mostly unfavorable feedback ratings or no ratings at all.
- Avoid sellers who act as authorized dealers or factory representatives of popular items in countries where there would be no such deals.
HERE IS THE FULL STATEMENT RELEASED BY THE FBI
Each year, thousands of US citizens become victims of holiday scams, the FBI said. Black Friday provides the perfect opportunity for cybercriminals to trap unsuspecting netizens as people try to purchase holiday gifts at a discount via e-commerce platforms.
