Professor Yakovleva revealed three rules for safe shopping on the Internet

Online shopping around the country is gaining momentum. And the Tula region is no exception. Orders from marketplaces and online stores have become familiar to thousands of families. But along with convenience, risks also increase. How not to give money to fraudsters when buying on the Internet, said Doctor of Economic Sciences, Professor of the Institute of Economics and Management of the RSUPU named after A. I. Herzen Anna Yakovleva.

The most common mistake of the buyer is to agree to pay “bypassing” the marketplace.

“The risk increases in cases where the seller offers to continue communication outside the marketplace and pay for the goods directly, for example, by transferring to a card or by sending a QR code,” explains Yakovleva. The buyer can be persuaded that this will cost the goods cheaper or avoid commission. However, when paying off-site, a person may lose the protection mechanisms provided for by it and the ability to resolve the dispute through its system.”.

The danger does not disappear after ordering. Fraudsters often present themselves as employees of a store, marketplace or delivery service: report a “payment problem”, ask to confirm the order, change the delivery address or issue a return – and then lead the buyer to the link, require a code from the SMS or repayment.

The professor advises paying special attention to any demands to act immediately. Phrases such as “order must be urgently confirmed”, “delivery surcharge” or “return is available only within a few minutes” are a classic technique designed to prevent a person from checking the information.

For online shopping, the expert recommends three strict rules:

“A true store or bank employee does not need an SMS code to cancel a purchase, refund or protect an account. When the money is stolen, every minute matters. It is necessary to contact your bank as soon as possible through an official number or application, if necessary, block the card and contact the police, said Anna Yakovleva.

Is it possible to cancel the transfer? Alas, no

There is no “cancel transfer” button after payment is made. Transfers through the Quick Payments System are credited to the recipient in real time. If the money has already gone to the fraudsters, it remains to promptly contact the bank - the return will depend on the circumstances of the transaction and the procedure provided.

The expert reassures: because of fraudsters, you do not need to abandon online purchases - it is only important to remain vigilant, check the seller before paying and not make decisions under pressure.

“Buy online with pleasure, but remember: a few minutes spent checking, can protect from serious financial losses,” concluded Anna Yakovleva.