Safer Shopping Guide

According to the Global Anti-Scam Alliance (GASA), in their 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: Ensure you shop on secure, legitimate sites.
• Password managers: Safeguard your accounts with strong, unique passwords.
• Phishing detection tips: 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: 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: Notify local and other authorities.
• Monitor your financial statements: Look for further suspicious activity.
• Consider using monitoring services: Look for credit and identity monitoring services that may help you detect further issues.
• Place a security freeze or fraud alert using credit reporting services

Website Verification Tools

Tool Name & Website	Description
Google Safe Browsing	Check if a website is flagged as unsafe or compromised by Google's Safe Browsing service.
SSL Checker	Verify if a website has a valid SSL certificate to ensure secure connections.
VirusTotal	Scan URLs to detect malicious or phishing activity across multiple security vendors.
PhishTank	Check if a website is listed in a database of known phishing sites.
WHOIS Lookup by ICANN	Find information about the ownership and registration of a domain to verify legitimacy.
Web of Trust (WOT)	Get community-based ratings for website trustworthiness and security.
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.
Norton Safe Web	Check a website's safety rating and associated risks using Norton’s database.
CheckPhish.ai	Detect phishing attempts using advanced AI-based analysis for suspicious URLs.

Monitoring Services

Name & Website	Description
Experian Credit Monitoring	Monitor your credit report and receive alerts for suspicious activity or changes to your credit file.
TransUnion Credit Monitoring	Offers real-time credit monitoring and alerts for potential fraud or unauthorized changes to your credit report.
Equifax Credit Monitoring	Provides credit monitoring with alerts for key changes to your credit report and score.
IdentityForce	Comprehensive identity protection with credit monitoring, identity theft alerts, and dark web scanning.
LifeLock	Offers credit monitoring, identity theft protection, and dark web monitoring to help secure your personal information.
PrivacyGuard	Credit and identity monitoring service with dark web monitoring and fraud resolution support.
IDShield	Provides identity monitoring, credit report tracking, and dark web surveillance to prevent identity theft.
Aura	All-in-one service offering credit monitoring, identity theft protection, and dark web scanning with alerts for data breaches.
IdentityIQ	Offers credit report monitoring, identity theft alerts, and dark web monitoring to detect and mitigate risks.
MyFICO	Provides credit score monitoring, credit report updates, and alerts for suspicious activity.
Credit Karma	Free credit monitoring service that provides alerts for changes in your credit report and score.
AllClear ID	Offers identity theft monitoring, fraud alerts, and assistance with recovery.
Zander Identity Theft Solutions	Includes credit monitoring, dark web scanning, and identity restoration services.
Credit Sesame	Free credit monitoring service with alerts for changes in credit score and report.
ID Watchdog	Offers credit monitoring, identity theft alerts, and dark web monitoring for sensitive information.
CreditWise by Capital One	Free credit monitoring service that includes alerts for dark web exposure of personal data.

Credit Security Freezes

Resource	Website	Description
TransUnion Global Sites	TransUnion Global	Offers localized guidance for placing security freezes and fraud alerts in multiple countries.
Equifax Global Consumer Services	Equifax Global Locations	Provides country-specific information for placing credit freezes and fraud alerts.
Experian International	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., ICO - UK, Action Fraud - UK, OCA - Canada)	National authorities provide fraud prevention guidance tailored to their regions.
OECD Consumer Protection and Financial Education	OECD Consumer Protection	Global guidelines and resources for managing personal financial risks, including fraud alerts.
Interpol	Interpol Website	Provides resources and guidance on global credit fraud prevention.
Europol	Europol Website	Offers regional guides and tools for credit fraud prevention and recovery.