View source for Safer Shopping Guide

According to the Global Anti-Scam Alliance (GASA), in their [https://www.gasa.org/_files/ugd/7bdaac_9060be8317424edd9964072cf279a0a4.pdf Global State of Scams Report 2024], global financial losses were approximately $1.03 trillion. This includes many scams, such as investment fraud, shopping, and identity theft. Knowing these threats is the first step to avoiding them.

==Identifying Red Flags==

Before you click “Buy Now,” here are some tips to spot a potential scam:
* '''Inspect URLs carefully:''' Legitimate websites use HTTPS (not just HTTP) and avoid strange domain names.
* '''Be skeptical of deep discounts:''' If an offer seems too good to be true, it likely is.
* '''Verify seller legitimacy:''' Check for reviews, return policies, and contact details. Fake sites often lack these.
* '''Watch for grammatical errors:''' Poorly written emails or websites are a hallmark of scammers.
* '''Avoid urgent payment demands:''' Scammers create urgency to pressure you into making mistakes.
* '''Stay alert and question anything that feels off.'''

==Resources to Help You Stay Safe==

* '''Website verification tools:''' [[#Website Verification Tools|Ensure you shop on secure, legitimate sites.]]
* '''Password managers:''' [[:Category:Password_Managers|Safeguard your accounts with strong, unique passwords.]]
* '''Phishing detection tips:''' [[Global Cyber Alliance - Phishing Overview|Learn to identify and avoid fraudulent emails.]]

==What to Do If You Become a Victim==

Falling victim to a scam can be stressful, but acting quickly can minimize damage. Here’s what to do:

* '''Change your passwords:''' Change passwords for any compromised accounts immediately.
* '''Increase your account security:''' [https://2fa.directory/ Add 2nd-factor authentication to your accounts]
* '''Contact your bank or credit card provider:''' Report unauthorized charges and request a freeze or reversal.
* '''Report the scam:''' [[Cybercrime Reporting Resources|Notify local and other authorities.]]
* '''Monitor your financial statements:''' Look for further suspicious activity.
* '''Consider using monitoring services:''' [[#Monitoring Services|Look for credit and identity monitoring services that may help you detect further issues.]]
* [[#Credit Security Freezes|'''Place a security freeze or fraud alert using credit reporting services''']]

==Website Verification Tools==
{| class="wikitable"
! Tool Name & Website !! Description
|-
| [https://transparencyreport.google.com/safe-browsing/search Google Safe Browsing] || Check if a website is flagged as unsafe or compromised by Google's Safe Browsing service.
|-
| [https://www.sslshopper.com/ssl-checker.html SSL Checker] || Verify if a website has a valid SSL certificate to ensure secure connections.
|-
| [https://www.virustotal.com/ VirusTotal] || Scan URLs to detect malicious or phishing activity across multiple security vendors.
|-
| [https://www.phishtank.com/ PhishTank] || Check if a website is listed in a database of known phishing sites.
|-
| [https://lookup.icann.org/ WHOIS Lookup by ICANN] || Find information about the ownership and registration of a domain to verify legitimacy.
|-
| [https://www.mywot.com/ Web of Trust (WOT)] || Get community-based ratings for website trustworthiness and security.
|-
| [https://www.scamadviser.com/ Scamadviser] || Check if a website is trustworthy based on various risk indicators.
|-
| N/A (In-browser feature) || Look for HTTPS and padlock icons in your browser's address bar to ensure secure connections.
|-
| [https://safeweb.norton.com/ Norton Safe Web] || Check a website's safety rating and associated risks using Norton’s database.
|-
| [https://checkphish.ai/ CheckPhish.ai] || Detect phishing attempts using advanced AI-based analysis for suspicious URLs.
|}

==Monitoring Services==
{| class="wikitable"
! Name & Website !! Description
|-
| [https://www.experian.com/protection/identity-theft-and-credit-protection/ Experian Credit Monitoring] || Monitor your credit report and receive alerts for suspicious activity or changes to your credit file.
|-
| [https://www.transunion.com/credit-monitoring TransUnion Credit Monitoring] || Offers real-time credit monitoring and alerts for potential fraud or unauthorized changes to your credit report.
|-
| [https://www.equifax.com/ Equifax Credit Monitoring] || Provides credit monitoring with alerts for key changes to your credit report and score.
|-
| [https://www.identityforce.com/ IdentityForce] || Comprehensive identity protection with credit monitoring, identity theft alerts, and dark web scanning.
|-
| [https://www.lifelock.com/ LifeLock] || Offers credit monitoring, identity theft protection, and dark web monitoring to help secure your personal information.
|-
| [https://www.privacyguard.com/ PrivacyGuard] || Credit and identity monitoring service with dark web monitoring and fraud resolution support.
|-
| [https://www.idshield.com/ IDShield] || Provides identity monitoring, credit report tracking, and dark web surveillance to prevent identity theft.
|-
| [https://www.aura.com/ Aura] || All-in-one service offering credit monitoring, identity theft protection, and dark web scanning with alerts for data breaches.
|-
| [https://www.identityiq.com/ IdentityIQ] || Offers credit report monitoring, identity theft alerts, and dark web monitoring to detect and mitigate risks.
|-
| [https://www.myfico.com/ MyFICO] || Provides credit score monitoring, credit report updates, and alerts for suspicious activity.
|-
| [https://www.creditkarma.com/ Credit Karma] || Free credit monitoring service that provides alerts for changes in your credit report and score.
|-
| [https://www.allclearid.com/identity-protection-services/ AllClear ID] || Offers identity theft monitoring, fraud alerts, and assistance with recovery.
|-
| [https://www.zanderins.com/identity-theft-protection Zander Identity Theft Solutions] || Includes credit monitoring, dark web scanning, and identity restoration services.
|-
| [https://www.creditsesame.com/ Credit Sesame] || Free credit monitoring service with alerts for changes in credit score and report.
|-
| [https://www.idwatchdog.com/ ID Watchdog] || Offers credit monitoring, identity theft alerts, and dark web monitoring for sensitive information.
|-
| [https://www.capitalone.com/creditwise/ CreditWise by Capital One] || Free credit monitoring service that includes alerts for dark web exposure of personal data.
|}
==Credit Security Freezes==
{| class="wikitable"
! Resource !! Website !! Description
|-
| TransUnion Global Sites || [https://www.transunion.com/global TransUnion Global] || Offers localized guidance for placing security freezes and fraud alerts in multiple countries.
|-
| Equifax Global Consumer Services || [https://www.equifax.com/global/ Equifax Global Locations] || Provides country-specific information for placing credit freezes and fraud alerts.
|-
| Experian International || [https://www.experian.com/global-sites Experian Global] || Access localized services for credit freezes and fraud alerts in Experian's operating countries.
|-
| National Consumer Protection Authorities || Varies by country (e.g., [https://ico.org.uk/ ICO - UK], [https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/ Action Fraud - UK], [https://ised-isde.canada.ca/site/office-consumer-affairs/en OCA - Canada]) || National authorities provide fraud prevention guidance tailored to their regions.
|-
| OECD Consumer Protection and Financial Education || [https://www.oecd.org/finance/financial-education/ OECD Consumer Protection] || Global guidelines and resources for managing personal financial risks, including fraud alerts.
|-
| Interpol || [https://www.interpol.int/ Interpol Website] || Provides resources and guidance on global credit fraud prevention.
|-
| Europol || [https://www.europol.europa.eu/ Europol Website] || Offers regional guides and tools for credit fraud prevention and recovery.
|}