Beware Of Being Tempted By Cheap Prices, Online Shopping Scams Are Increasing, Recognize The Identity Of The Seller

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JAKARTA - Online shopping crime continues to grow as people's interest in transacting in the digital world increases. Perpetrators take advantage of various modes, ranging from fake online stores, price offers far below the market, to posing as trusted buyers or sellers to deceive their victims.

In many cases, the victim was tempted by lucrative promotions, made full payments, but the goods were never sent.

Reporting from various sources, one of the popular modes is the creation of a mock website or social media account that displays photos of original products and fake testimonials. The perpetrator uses a design and layout resembling a well-known marketplace so that the victim feels safe. In addition, there is also a mode of fraud with evidence of fake transfers, where the perpetrator claims to have paid and asked the victim to send goods first.

Losses due to online shopping scams are not only material, but also personal data. Many victims unknowingly share sensitive information such as home addresses, phone numbers, and even bank account data. This data can be resold or used for other crimes such as illegal online loans or phishing.

To prevent this, the public is advised to always verify the seller's identity, check store reviews and reputations, and make transactions only through official platforms with safe payment methods. Avoid being tempted by too cheap prices or urgent offers, because this often becomes a sign of fraud.

Additional protection measures include the use of shared account features or environments, storing proof of communication and transactions, and immediately reporting to the authorities or complaint centers if they become victims. Digital literacy education and vigilance in online shopping are the keys to minimize risks and break the chain of online crime.