Online Shopping Scam

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HOW TO STAY SAFE

Online Shopping Scam

Online shopping and e-commerce channels have grown tremendously in the last few years as more and more people are turning to it for the convenience it offers in a fast-paced world, as well as the amazing deals you can find online. However, this has also created various opportunities for scammers to gain access to your information or to steal your hard-earned cash.

Scammers will entice you with unbelievable offers for well-known brands online. These deals may be presented to you via online ads, mailers, or via social media platforms.

They create fraudulent websites with merchandise, fake customer reviews, and payment portals. Once you have completed the purchase, you receive fake goods or nothing at all. They also use these platforms to collect your personal information and card details, which they then use in other scams or sell.

Your device may also be compromised when you engage with the fake websites and click on buttons or links on the site, resulting in malware being loaded onto your device.

How To Spot It

These are the red flags you should look out for:

You get an unsolicited pop up or message about an offer with a link to a website you have never visited or used before.
They offer unbelievably good prices and unrealistic discounts. If it seems ‘too good to be true' - it probably is
There's a sense of urgency. The offer is for a limited time only or there is limited stock.
In some scams the website or platforms look unprofessional. The website may have poor design or inconsistencies, the URL seems suspicious, and there is limited company information or contact information available.
In a 'clickjacking' scenario you will be redirected to an alternate website with a different URL, which may look very similar to the source site.
The payment methods are unusual and seem different to other trusted sites. And there is a lack of two-factor authentication or 3D payment verification for card transactions.
They may ask for unusual personal/ confidential information that is not relevant to complete the purchase.
You may also be asked to download a mobile application to make the purchase or benefit from certain discounts or rewards programmes. Downloading the mobile application from an app store does not necessarily make it safe. Always verify the organisation, the terms and conditions for using the app, and the permissions you are required to provide the mobile app before installing it onto your device.

What To Do

There are steps you can take to empower yourself to fight back against scams:

Use reputable retailers: When it comes to online shopping, shop on trusted websites or e-commerce channels only. Beware of being redirected from a legitimate website by always checking the URL as you shop.
Verify and do your research: You can use the Yima URL scanner to do a security check on the website to see if it is safe. Research the organisation, their websites and check for genuine customer reviews on legitimate shopping websites.
Do not click on links: Never click on links in emails or messages from unknown sources.
Use secure payment methods: Do not make payments via websites that are not verified by your payment service provider or before reviewing the seller’s return and refund policy. Never save your card details on the website/ platform. Check if 3D secure payment options are provided on the website before engaging.
Do not share personal/ confidential information: Information like your date of birth, your ID number, bank account or pin number is not required to make online purchases.
Monitor for the installation of malware on your device: You can do this by checking for any changes in the device's performance, possible overheating, addition of new applications, random unexpected pop-ups, rapid battery drainage, or unexpected excessive data usage.
Report it: If you have been scammed, please report it immediately to the relevant organisation and/ or authorities, as well as the Yima reporting function below, or the Yima scams hotline.

Stop. Think. Verify. Don't get scammed!

Report a Scam

HOW TO STAY SAFE

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Smishing (SMSs)
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Quishing (Malicious QR Codes)
Quishing, or QR code phishing, is a scam where criminals use malicious QR codes to trick people into visiting their fake websites, downloading malware onto their devices, sharing personal information or stealing your money.
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Social Engineering
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Crypto Scams
Scammers create fake online investment trading platforms and investment houses, or crypto exchanges with the intention of stealing your money. They create professional looking marketing material and share posts on social media platforms to entice interest - promising fantastic returns for little investment. Their fake websites or mobile applications are designed to impress with technical layouts that imitate legitimate trading platforms.
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Advanced Fee Scams
This is when scammers trick victims into paying upfront fees, usually for discounted goods or services, with the promise of a prize, large payoff, or a gift that needs to be delivered, or even an inheritance that needs to be distributed.
FIND OUT MORE
Investment Scams
Scammers create the illusion of amazing investment opportunities that will help you improve your financial status.
FIND OUT MORE
Phishing (Emails/Websites)
Phishing emails ask users to click on a link in the email. This link will direct them to a 'spoofed' website (a fake website that very closely resembles the original site) to obtain, verify or update contact details or other confidential information, including financial information.
FIND OUT MORE
Money Mules
Fraudsters often trick people into letting them use their bank accounts to receive money from illegal activities - such as fraud, corruption, drug sales, smuggling, or even human trafficking. This tactic, known as money laundering, hides their identity by making transactions look legitimate.
FIND OUT MORE
Push Payment Fraud
Push payment fraud is when a person is tricked into authorising a real-time transfer of funds to a scammer impersonating a trusted organisation, like a bank representative for example.
FIND OUT MORE
Remote Access Scams
You are contacted by a scammer posing as a service provider that is known to you. They request 'remote access' to your device to do a security check, update or transaction.
FIND OUT MORE
Romance Scams
As more and more of our lives exist online, it is no surprise that dating is as well. Many people turn to online platforms to find love and connection. There are many wonderful success stories, however, scammers have entered the chat, and they use sophisticated methods to deceive and trick unsuspecting victims who are simply looking for love.
FIND OUT MORE
Vishing (Phone Calls)
Scammers phone individuals posing as a representative from an established organisation like a bank, mobile service provider, insurer, retailer, government body or even the police. This is also known as voice phishing or vishing.
FIND OUT MORE
Ancestry Scams
These scams involve using a person's desire to connect with their heritage or cultural beliefs. Scammers create fake inheritance scenarios or fictitious ancestral demands from a sangoma (traditional healer).
FIND OUT MORE
Commodity Scams
A commodity scam is a sophisticated scheme involving raw materials like agricultural products, precious metals, or energy.
FIND OUT MORE
Employment Scams
Employment scams target people who are looking for jobs or employment opportunities. Scammers create fake job posts to lure people in, only to steal their money or personal information.
FIND OUT MORE
Smishing (SMSs)
Smishing is short for 'SMS phishing'. This is when fraudsters send an SMS pretending to be an organisation asking for financial or personal information.
FIND OUT MORE
Impersonation Scams
Impersonation scams involve criminals pretending to be trusted individuals or representatives from reputable organisations with the aim of stealing your money or personal and confidential information.
FIND OUT MORE
Quishing (Malicious QR Codes)
Quishing, or QR code phishing, is a scam where criminals use malicious QR codes to trick people into visiting their fake websites, downloading malware onto their devices, sharing personal information or stealing your money.
FIND OUT MORE
Social Engineering
Social engineering is a tactic used by scammers to influence or deceive a victim in order to steal their personal/ financial information or money, or to gain control over a system. It is about about using your behaviour and what you share with the world against you, and exploits your trust. A common tactic by scammers is to create a fake profile and then befriend potential victims, taking great interest in their social lives. They use this connection to gain access to your life and information.
FIND OUT MORE
Crypto Scams
Scammers create fake online investment trading platforms and investment houses, or crypto exchanges with the intention of stealing your money. They create professional looking marketing material and share posts on social media platforms to entice interest - promising fantastic returns for little investment. Their fake websites or mobile applications are designed to impress with technical layouts that imitate legitimate trading platforms.
FIND OUT MORE
Business Email Compromise
Business Email Compromise (BEC) is a sophisticated tactic where scammers impersonate high-ranking company officials or trusted partners through email or other messaging platforms to trick employees into making payments or sharing private and confidential business information.
FIND OUT MORE
Loan/ Debt Collector Scams
A loan scam is when a criminal deceives an individual into applying for fake loans. The scammers request personal and confidential information which is later used for other criminal activities.
FIND OUT MORE
Advanced Fee Scams
This is when scammers trick victims into paying upfront fees, usually for discounted goods or services, with the promise of a prize, large payoff, or a gift that needs to be delivered, or even an inheritance that needs to be distributed.
FIND OUT MORE
Investment Scams
Scammers create the illusion of amazing investment opportunities that will help you improve your financial status.
FIND OUT MORE
Phishing (Emails/Websites)
Phishing emails ask users to click on a link in the email. This link will direct them to a 'spoofed' website (a fake website that very closely resembles the original site) to obtain, verify or update contact details or other confidential information, including financial information.
FIND OUT MORE
Money Mules
Fraudsters often trick people into letting them use their bank accounts to receive money from illegal activities - such as fraud, corruption, drug sales, smuggling, or even human trafficking. This tactic, known as money laundering, hides their identity by making transactions look legitimate.
FIND OUT MORE
Push Payment Fraud
Push payment fraud is when a person is tricked into authorising a real-time transfer of funds to a scammer impersonating a trusted organisation, like a bank representative for example.
FIND OUT MORE
Remote Access Scams
You are contacted by a scammer posing as a service provider that is known to you. They request 'remote access' to your device to do a security check, update or transaction.
FIND OUT MORE
Romance Scams
As more and more of our lives exist online, it is no surprise that dating is as well. Many people turn to online platforms to find love and connection. There are many wonderful success stories, however, scammers have entered the chat, and they use sophisticated methods to deceive and trick unsuspecting victims who are simply looking for love.
FIND OUT MORE
Vishing (Phone Calls)
Scammers phone individuals posing as a representative from an established organisation like a bank, mobile service provider, insurer, retailer, government body or even the police. This is also known as voice phishing or vishing.
FIND OUT MORE
Ancestry Scams
These scams involve using a person's desire to connect with their heritage or cultural beliefs. Scammers create fake inheritance scenarios or fictitious ancestral demands from a sangoma (traditional healer).
FIND OUT MORE
Commodity Scams
A commodity scam is a sophisticated scheme involving raw materials like agricultural products, precious metals, or energy.
FIND OUT MORE
Employment Scams
Employment scams target people who are looking for jobs or employment opportunities. Scammers create fake job posts to lure people in, only to steal their money or personal information.
FIND OUT MORE
Smishing (SMSs)
Smishing is short for 'SMS phishing'. This is when fraudsters send an SMS pretending to be an organisation asking for financial or personal information.
FIND OUT MORE
Impersonation Scams
Impersonation scams involve criminals pretending to be trusted individuals or representatives from reputable organisations with the aim of stealing your money or personal and confidential information.
FIND OUT MORE
Quishing (Malicious QR Codes)
Quishing, or QR code phishing, is a scam where criminals use malicious QR codes to trick people into visiting their fake websites, downloading malware onto their devices, sharing personal information or stealing your money.
FIND OUT MORE
Social Engineering
Social engineering is a tactic used by scammers to influence or deceive a victim in order to steal their personal/ financial information or money, or to gain control over a system. It is about about using your behaviour and what you share with the world against you, and exploits your trust. A common tactic by scammers is to create a fake profile and then befriend potential victims, taking great interest in their social lives. They use this connection to gain access to your life and information.
FIND OUT MORE
Crypto Scams
Scammers create fake online investment trading platforms and investment houses, or crypto exchanges with the intention of stealing your money. They create professional looking marketing material and share posts on social media platforms to entice interest - promising fantastic returns for little investment. Their fake websites or mobile applications are designed to impress with technical layouts that imitate legitimate trading platforms.
FIND OUT MORE
Business Email Compromise
Business Email Compromise (BEC) is a sophisticated tactic where scammers impersonate high-ranking company officials or trusted partners through email or other messaging platforms to trick employees into making payments or sharing private and confidential business information.
FIND OUT MORE
Loan/ Debt Collector Scams
A loan scam is when a criminal deceives an individual into applying for fake loans. The scammers request personal and confidential information which is later used for other criminal activities.
FIND OUT MORE

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HOW TO STAY SAFE

Online Shopping Scam

How To Spot It

What To Do

HOW TO STAY SAFE

Loan/ Debt Collector Scams

Advanced Fee Scams

Investment Scams