進行一點點挖掘可以幫助您避免在網上購物時遇到那些實在太真實的陷阱。 martin-dm / E +通過Getty Images
假期已經是繁榮時期 網上購物。 “ COVID-19大流行病增加 the likelihood that when people shop this holiday season, they will choose online shopping over brick-and-mortar stores.人們在這個假期購物的可能性很大，他們會選擇實體商店而不是網上商店。 However, this also means there is likely to be a boom in但是，這也意味著 在線詐騙.
Already, multiple companies from outside the US are advertising relatively unchecked on the internet, selling – or even just pretending to sell – all manner of products.已經有來自美國以外的多家公司在互聯網上做相對不加限制的廣告宣傳，銷售甚至假裝銷售各種產品。 The items are typically advertised using designs stolen from legitimate businesses and artists, often ripped off from Etsy, especially if those designs have been featured on popular sites like Bored Panda.這些商品通常使用從合法商家和藝術家那裡竊取的設計進行廣告宣傳，通常會從Etsy竊取，特別是如果那些設計在諸如Bored Panda這樣的熱門網站上得到了宣傳。
人們購買這些詐騙產品時，通常會收到 低質量。 That's if anything ever arrives.那就是任何東西到達的時候。 Often the company just shutters and renames itself without sending anything.公司通常只是不發送任何東西就關閉並重命名自己。 In worst-case scenarios, they also steal customers' credit card information.在最壞的情況下，他們還會竊取客戶的信用卡信息。
So how to shop smart and spot scams?那麼，如何購物聰明又能發現騙局呢？ Here are some clues to watch for.這裡是一些需要注意的線索。
1.真的太好了嗎？
Does the product pictured match the price?圖示的產品價格合適嗎？ Know the market.了解市場。 An amazing product for a low price is cause for suspicion.低價格的驚人產品令人懷疑。 For example, Instagram was featuring photos of a “Halloween Advent Calendar.”例如，Instagram展示了“萬聖節降臨日曆”的照片。 The ad listed a price of US$59.99, but available for a limited time for $29.80.該廣告的標價為XNUMX美元，但在限定時間內可以以XNUMX美元的價格購買。 At first glance you might think you're getting a great deal, but take a moment to think it through.乍一看，您可能會覺得自己收穫頗豐，但花點時間仔細考慮一下。 That price would barely cover the cost of shipping and handling for a product of that size.這個價格幾乎不能支付這種尺寸產品的運輸和處理成本。 The original product,原始產品， 在Etsy上出售，零售價超過1,800美元，創作者積壓了很多訂單。
在“更美好的家園”上刊登了兩個在線廣告，分別是左下方和右上方，使用的是從Etsy供應商處獲取的產品圖片，該圖片來自該供應商的“萬聖節降臨”產品（右下方）， Pinterest和OddityMall網站。 H. Colleen Sinclair的屏幕截圖, CC BY-NC-ND
2.如有疑問：Google
Perhaps you're not familiar enough with Etsy workmanship to recognize a likely ripoff.也許您對Etsy的做工不夠熟悉，以至於無法識別出可能存在的盜版行為。 When in doubt, search the product name or download the image and run a如有疑問，請搜索產品名稱或下載圖像並運行 谷歌圖片搜索。 You are likely to find the original source.您可能會找到原始來源。 If the product really exists – unlike this如果產品確實存在–與此不同 CG小鯊魚 that one company used as an ad for its alleged baby shark robot toy – you can choose to pay the original artist for their hard work or take the risk and try to get the knockoff.一家公司為其涉嫌的嬰兒鯊魚機器人玩具做廣告-您可以選擇為原創藝術家的辛勤工作付費，也可以冒險冒險嘗試敲詐。 The search will also reveal whether there are multiple alleged businesses selling the same “unique” and “exclusive” items using the same exact pictures.搜索還將顯示是否存在多個使用相同確切圖片出售相同“獨特”和“專有”商品的涉嫌企業。 Once you start seeing double or more, that's a warning sign.一旦您開始看到兩倍或更多，這就是一個警告信號。
3.檢查商譽
Searching for the business name will likely just take you to the business's site.搜索公司名稱可能只會將您帶到公司的網站。 Instead, search the business name with the word “scam.”而是用單詞“ scam”搜索公司名稱。 You will be able to tell pretty quickly if there is a worrisome history associated with the business.您將能夠很快分辨出與該業務相關的歷史記錄。 You can also try您也可以嘗試 騙局，專用於確定在線鏈接的可信度。 There may be a Better Business Bureau listing for the company, but該公司可能會有更好的商業局清單，但 依靠這些要小心。 You can also find Facebook groups, like this one for您還可以找到Facebook群組，例如 與時尚有關的騙局，用於跟踪不可信的網站。
4.太不值得信任了
In some cases the business is so new that you won't be able to find a track record.在某些情況下，企業太新了，您將無法找到跟踪記錄。 This is a red flag.這是一個危險信號。 They are likely one of those companies that close up once they've gotten enough orders then set up a new name and new domain and do it all over again.他們很可能是獲得足夠訂單後便關閉並設置新名稱和新域名並重新做一遍的那些公司之一。 There is a chance that it's a legitimate new businesses trying to open shop during a pandemic.在大流行期間，有可能這是一家合法的新企業，試圖開設商店。 To tell the difference between a legitimate new business and a fly-by-night operation, apply some of the following steps to judge them.要區分合法的新業務和夜間飛行業務之間的區別，請採用以下一些步驟進行判斷。
5.查看評論
Take a close look at the reviews.仔細查看評論。 If there aren't any, back away.如果沒有，請退後。 If there are, check for the following warning signs.如果有，請檢查以下警告標誌。 The reviews are few and unanimously five stars with no comments.評論很少，沒有評論都被一致評為五星級。 If there are comments, they are loaded with broken English or vague praise that could have been copied and pasted from any product.如果有任何評論，這些評論可能充滿了殘破的英語或模糊的讚美，這些讚美可能已經從任何產品中復制並粘貼了。 None of the reviews includes pictures of the actual received product.沒有評論包含實際收到的產品的圖片。 There aren't any negative reviews, which is a red flag because even the best legitimate businesses can't please everyone all the time.沒有負面評論，這是一個危險信號，因為即使是最好的合法企業也無法一直取悅所有人。 As a side note, if you are looking at a legitimate product offering, be careful not to附帶說明，如果您正在尋找合法的產品，請注意不要 閱讀過多的負面評論.
6.這是一個“好”網站嗎？
Does the business have a website, and not just a Facebook page?該企業是否有網站，而不僅僅是Facebook頁面？ If not, that's a big no.如果沒有，那是一個很大的問題。 If they do, is it a complete website, or is it barely there?如果這樣做的話，這是一個完整的網站，還是僅此而已？ Check that the business has a phone number that works, and when you search the number it doesn't have 12 other “businesses” associated with it.檢查該企業的電話號碼是否有效，當您搜索該電話時，該企業沒有與之關聯的其他XNUMX個“企業”。 Check that it lists a mailing address, preferably one that isn't just a post office box.檢查它是否列出了一個郵寄地址，最好是一個不僅僅是郵政信箱的地址。
“關於我們”是否包括開業時間？ Does it include information about the products' creators?它是否包含有關產品創作者的信息？ If the page has a photo purporting to be of the owner or artist, you can do a Google image search to see if it's a photo copied from another webpage, a stock photo or a fake created by an AI system.如果頁面上的照片看起來是所有者或藝術家的照片，則可以執行Google圖像搜索以查看它是從另一個網頁複製的照片，股票照片還是由AI系統創建的偽造品。 Do their claims about themselves hold up to scrutiny?他們對自己的主張是否值得審查？ For example, does the site claim to be an American Black-owned business but their例如，該網站是否聲稱是美國黑人所有的企業，但他們 WHOIS域名信息 在中國上市公司？
7.社交媒體的存在：他們有嗎？
Similarly, do they have a social media presence outside of the ad that pops up in your newsfeed?同樣，他們是否在您的新聞源中彈出廣告之外存在社交媒體？ If not, steer clear.如果沒有，請避開。 If so, you can click on the poster's name to see where the person or business is located and when the page was started.如果是這樣，您可以單擊發布者的名稱以查看此人或公司的位置以及該頁面的啟動時間。 You can also see how far back their posts go, as well as check the quality of those posts and chatter about the company.您還可以查看他們的帖子回溯了多久，以及查看這些帖子的質量和關於公司的閒聊。
8.當心“停業”的故事
在大流行期間 合法的生意實際上正在關閉。 Illegitimate businesses have been latching onto this as a tool to tug at people's heartstrings to trick shoppers.非法企業一直以此為工具，以拉動人們的心弦來欺騙購物者。 It is它是 美國企業這樣做是違法的，但美國境外的企業不受同一法律的約束。 One way to tell the legitimate businesses from the frauds is to check the starting date on告知欺詐行為合法企業的一種方法是檢查開始日期 網站域名註冊 and social media sites.和社交媒體網站。 If the business popped up during the pandemic just in time to go out of business, steer clear.如果企業在大流行期間突然倒閉而倒閉，請避開。
在Instagram左側和右側的Facebook上有可疑廣告，其中包含大流行的停業故事，這些故事使用從合法企業中獲取的產品圖片， Lalabug設計。 H. Colleen Sinclair的屏幕截圖, CC BY-NC-ND
9.流行廣告點擊誘餌
Watch out for fad items.提防時尚物品。 Knockoffs and ripoffs abound on any hot or trendy item.在任何熱門或新潮物品上都存在大量仿冒品。 Nowadays marketers are also picking up on political trends.如今，營銷人員也開始了解政治趨勢。 Businesses crop up with names like “WeLuvTrump,” “FemPower” and “BlackGoodness.”企業以“ WeLuvTrump”，“ FemPower”和“ BlackGoodness”之類的名字出現。 The same is happening with political news.政治新聞也是如此。 For example, RBG items are all the rage in the wake of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death.例如，在露絲·巴德·金斯堡大法官去世後，RBG物品風行一時。 Again, following the steps above will help you sort out which products are legitimate.同樣，按照上述步驟操作將有助於您確定哪些產品是合法的。
10.社會影響力的技巧
還要注意社會心理學家最初發現的常見營銷技巧 羅伯特西亞迪尼 that are used by legitimate and illegitimate businesses alike.合法和非法企業都在使用。 The most common you are likely to see in scam sites are claims of exclusive access, which appeal to your您最可能在詐騙網站上看到的是專有訪問權的聲明，這些信息會吸引您 需要獨特性，聲稱供應有限或時間有限的“銷售”，這些都在 心理價值 人們放在稀有物品上，並聲稱“來自印第安納州的Karen S.剛剛購買了該物品”，這些物品是“社會證明行為是安全的或適當的，因為其他人已經這樣做了。
Ultimately, if these 10 tips seem like too much to go through just to get that unique toy for your grandkid, buy instead from a trusted source you have counted on in the past.最終，如果僅僅為了給孫子孫女買個獨特的玩具而經歷的這XNUMX條小技巧似乎太多了，那就從過去依靠的可靠來源購買。 It's also a good idea to use credit cards or payment services like PayPal that protect consumers from fraudulent charges.使用信用卡或付款服務（如PayPal）來保護消費者免受欺詐性收費也是一個好主意。
Shop wisely.明智地購物。 Your bank account is counting on you.您的銀行帳戶指望您。
關於作者
H.科琳·辛克萊爾，社會心理學副教授， 密西西比州立大學
