How to avoid being scammed
Sadly, most of us have probably been scammed to some extent online. While for many of us,it might only be something minimal, like engaging with a fake profile on social media, it can still be extremely frustrating. While there are sometimes innocent reasons for having a fake profile, such as maintaining privacy and security, many are set up with malicious intent. These can be to engage in cyberbullying, catfishing, identity theft, scamming or spreading misinformation.
Banks leading the charge
Suddenly, engaging with the fake social media profile isn’t so minor at all and can lead to much larger scams. We have all heard horror stories of people losing their lifetime savings through an elaborate fraud. The major banks have set up whole units to counter such activity. Santander has a Break the Spell team tasked with convincing people that the person they thought was their girlfriend is nothing other than a common criminal intent on taking all their money.
We repeatedly see and hear warnings advising us to be careful of online fraud. Whenever we make a new payment on our mobile banking apps, the bank prompts us to think about what the purchase is and whether we know the person we are paying. Sadly, many of us still get caught out, particularly if we are trying to buy something in a competitive marketplace, like a used car, and we need to make a deposit to secure the deal.
Trusted reviewers?
As we buy so much online, it can be hard to assess how genuine a seller is and get a feel for the quality of the goods we are purchasing. Therefore, we are increasingly reliant on review sites and peer-to-peer reviews. The problem is that scammers follow the money, and those fake social media profiles can become useful for creating fake reviews. The big question is, how do we know which reviews to trust and which to ignore?
There are three main types of review to be aware of:
• Peer-to-peer – these are the sorts of reviews that you find on selling sites like eBay, Vinted, and Amazon.
• Specialist review sites – these are usually industry-specific and are a combination of review and comparison sites. These are generally third-party reviews compiled by professional paid reviewers.
• General review sites – sites like Trust Pilot and Google Reviews where companies elicit reviews from people who have purchased their product.
How to spot a fake
When looking at the first of these, you might see a seller with only five-star reviews. While they might be genuine, it is unlikely that everyone who bought from the seller has been entirely delighted with the product or service. It is always worth taking a deeper dive into the people leaving the reviews. You can usually get an idea of whether they are fake or real with a few clicks. One good indicator is whether or not the reviewer has a profile picture or any details.
Consumer champion Which? encourages people to actually read the reviews and not just trust an overall score. They claim that one tell-tale sign of sellers incentivising people to leave positive reviews is if the reviewer has included lots of pictures or videos. They also advise people to look for specifics about the product experience, claiming real reviewers go into details while fake reviewers only post generalities. They also recommend you check the dates, as lots of reviews being posted simultaneously is another sign of a seller who might have drummed up fake positive feedback.
Specialist review sites bring reassurance
Specialist review sites can be just the ticket if you are trying to find out more about a particular product or service. For example, if online casinos are your thing, you want to know that you are playing on a trusted, fun site. While there are plenty of quasi-reviewers out there, some of them are simply affiliates who will push one online casino over another because they earn a commission for doing so.
Trusted online casino review sites are independent from the casinos and game developers. They provide readers with honest feedback they have gathered through undertaking a thorough and systematic review process.
A site like Casino.org follows a twenty-five-step process to check out all the ‘boring bits’ like site security, customer services, licensing and payment methods before moving on to the fun of reviewing the games on offer. Because of this, you can trust what is in their Pub Casino Review because it is unbiased and thorough. They also check out the terms and conditions of any bonuses on offer to make sure the offer can live up to the promises it makes. A great review site acts as a trust mark for the consumer, so they can be confident they are spending money on a reputable site.
Knowing who to trust
Generalist review sites also aim to offer ‘Trustmark’ services but are a combination of peer-to-peer reviews and comparison site. A site like Trustpilot is made up of consumer reviews, but unlike peer-to-peer selling sites, it is a third-party site, and the reviews are screened for authenticity. After a consumer has bought a product, they are sent a link from the review site asking for feedback across a range of features relating to the product or service they have purchased.
All reviewers must verify their identity, and businesses must confirm additional company details. The site says this promotes transparency and helps consumers make decisions with confidence because the review’s integrity is protected. In addition, there is a facility for users to flag reviews that they are unsure about. Trustpilot uses fraud detection software to examine behavioural patterns across the site and calculate the likelihood of reviews being fake. However, some critics remain wary and feel that the site does not adequately identify fake reviews.
Fools rush in …..
Ultimately, you have to trust your gut instinct when it comes to online reviews. Rather than rushing in, take your time and do not be pressured into buying anything you are unsure about. It is often a good idea to test the water and make a small purchase first if you are unsure. Read reviews about the reviewers to be sure and look before you leap.
