Bouquets fake, losses - real: how to recognize scammers when ordering flowers for Teacher's Day

Many Minsk residents are already ordering bouquets and souvenirs online for Teachers’ Day, which will be celebrated this year on October 4. There is a high probability of fake online shops selling flowers. How not to fall for the tricks of scammers when buying online, the correspondent of the agency “Minsk-Novosti” told the head of the Central police Department Vitaly Sementsov.

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According to him, when choosing an online store, it is first of all important to check the presence of a physical address and the possibility of pick-up. A bona fide seller works openly - he has a real address and the option to pick up the order in person. If there is no such possibility, it should be alerted.

It is also worth making sure that the site contains a phone number with the code of Belarus, without offering to contact exclusively via messengers or social networks.

V. Sementsov stressed: you should not trust the reviews posted on the seller's website. It is better to look for the opinions of buyers on third-party sites. The same, template reviews or their complete absence can talk about cheating, and blocking comments is often used by unscrupulous sellers to hide the negative from deceived customers.

Of particular concern should be the newly created sites and the prices of bouquets, significantly below the average market – too profitable offer is often a trap.

To check the seller, V. Sementsov recommends requesting the full name of the organization, address, information on state registration, as well as the number and date of registration in the Commercial Register. If the seller evades the answer or cannot provide this data, it is better to refuse the purchase.

If the store works through social networks, it can be checked using the telegram bot @ScamBY bot developed by the Minsk police. This is a quick way to find out if the resource is listed in the database of fraudulent sites.

The law enforcement officer also advises: if you request an advance payment, find out which bank owns the card for transfer. To do this, you can enter a request in the browser “recognize the bank by the card number” and use one of the first verified services. If the card is issued abroad, it is a clear sign of fraud.

One of the most reliable methods of protection is payment upon receipt. If such an option is not available, it is necessary to carefully check the seller for all the specified criteria. It is worth abandoning the transaction if you are asked to transfer money to a personal card, electronic wallet, through money transfer systems or in cryptocurrency - these are one of the most common schemes of deception.

As noted by the head of the Central police Department, do not succumb to pressure from sellers. Fraudsters often create artificial scarcity — say, for example, that the last bouquet is left or the promotion is valid only today — to force the client to make a hasty decision. It is better to spend time checking than to lose money.

If a person nevertheless became a victim of deception, V. Sementsov strongly recommends that you immediately contact the internal affairs bodies. The sooner a report of the incident is received, the higher the chances of identifying the perpetrators and returning the funds. It is important to keep all the evidence: correspondence with the seller, screenshots of the site, checks and receipts for the transfer of money.

Mindfulness is the main protection against fraudsters. It is better to choose a trusted store, even if the price is slightly higher than risking your money for dubious gain.