Yes, it’s very common for purchase scams to happen through websites. Fake websites can be set up to advertise products at very discounted prices, much cheaper than competitor websites. Even though people may not be familiar with the website, it’s common for them to take the risk because of the savings. Websites can look very legitimate, and you may even see paid social adverts on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Instagram and Pinterest, which adds to the trust element.

If you’re thinking about purchasing from a website you’re not familiar with, there are a few things you can do to identify whether it is legitimate to help you avoid purchase scams:

Reviews – make sure to look at review platforms for the website. If you can’t find many reviews, or the reviews don’t look real, then avoid at all costs as this may be a purchase scam.
Spelling errors – websites created in a rush will often feature spelling errors, or you may notice errors in the website URL.
Payment methods – if the website does not provide secure payment options, or it’s requested you pay via bank transfer by getting in touch with them over email, it’s very likely this is a purchase scam.
Contact details – if there is no address, phone number or email address available, only a contact form, this is a sign the website may not be legitimate.

Yes, it’s very common for purchase scams to happen through websites. Fake websites can be set up to advertise products at very discounted prices, much cheaper than competitor websites. Even though people may not be familiar with the website, it’s common for them to take the risk because of the savings. Websites can look very legitimate, and you may even see paid social adverts on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Instagram and Pinterest, which adds to the trust element.

If you’re thinking about purchasing from a website you’re not familiar with, there are a few things you can do to identify whether it is legitimate to help you avoid purchase scams:

Reviews – make sure to look at review platforms for the website. If you can’t find many reviews, or the reviews don’t look real, then avoid at all costs as this may be a purchase scam.
Spelling errors – websites created in a rush will often feature spelling errors, or you may notice errors in the website URL.
Payment methods – if the website does not provide secure payment options, or it’s requested you pay via bank transfer by getting in touch with them over email, it’s very likely this is a purchase scam.
Contact details – if there is no address, phone number or email address available, only a contact form, this is a sign the website may not be legitimate.
Secure website – when you’re browsing, look for a lock symbol next to the URL, as this means the website is encrypted. However, these can be forged by purchase scammers, so this alone does not suggest a website is legitimate.

The first thing you should do if you think you’re a victim of a purchase scam is to contact your bank. If the payment hasn’t yet gone through they may be able to stop it. This is usually only the case immediately following a payment, however, it’s absolutely worth calling. Even if there’s a bit of time between the payment and when you suspect it may be a scam, make sure to contact your bank. If the payment was made using a debit or credit card, there may be some protection in place, so make sure to ask whether this is the case in your scenario.

After this, if the item was being sold through a platform like Facebook Marketplace or Ebay, make sure to report the user to the platform. This can help to prevent the person from scamming anyone else.

Lastly, at WRS, we may be able to help you recover the money lost through purchase scams, so get in touch with us to arrange a consultation with one of our experts.

It is unlikely that your bank will be responsible if you’re a victim of a purchase scam. However, if you’ve made the purchase with your debit or credit card, there may be some protection in place.

The only eventuality where a bank will be fully responsible for any banking fraud is if there was a data breach as a result of insufficient data protection. Purchase scams involve a person being persuaded to make a purchase through a variety of different methods and then voluntarily sending the money, which is unrelated to the bank.

However, if you do think you’re a victim of a purchase scam, make sure to call your bank. If it’s soon enough after the payment, they may be able to prevent the payment from going through. Failing this, they will provide guidance on what to do next and will inform you if there is anything they can do to help. You may be able to claim the money back through your bank depending on the bank and what has happened, however, this isn’t always the case.

Loan fee fraud: You’re accepted for a loan, but before it’s “approved”, you’re asked to pay a fee for insurance, processing or an admin charge. Once paid, the loan never arrives, and the scammer disappears with your funds.
Job scams: You apply for a job and are told you’ve been successful. But before you can start, you’re asked to pay for background checks, training, or admin costs. Once paid, the job offer vanishes, and so does the scammer with your money.
Social media competition: You’re told you’ve won a prize in a competition, perhaps one you never even entered. But to claim it, you need to pay a small fee for delivery, verification or admin. After you pay, the prize never arrives because the competition was fake.
Rental property scams: You find a great rental property online. The “landlord” asks for a deposit to reserve it, often claiming there’s a lot of interest or that you can’t view it in person. After you send the money, the property turns out to be fake — or already rented to someone else.