Survey Says: Online Shopping Scam Fears Exceed Reality

Common Fears vs. Actual Experiences with Online Shopping Scams:

• Fears:

  • 55% of survey respondents feared receiving fake or incorrect products.
  • 98% have at least one fear about shopping on online marketplaces.
  • Top three fears: insecure payment sites, unsolicited offers, and peer-to-peer transactions.

• Actual Experiences:

  • Only 15% received fake or incorrect products in the past year.
  • 38% had not experienced any issues despite having fears.
  • Most common experience was sellers misrepresenting item condition (21%).

Steps to Avoid Online Shopping Scams:

• Check buyer reviews: Look for ongoing issues or warnings from past buyers.
• Compare prices: Ensure you're not being overcharged by comparing the listing price to similar items.
• Request more photos: Confirm the seller has the product and check its condition.
• Use image search: Check if the product photos are stolen from another listing.
• Verify seller information: Confirm the seller's identity and look for negative reviews on other platforms.
• Use people search engines: Tools like Spokeo can provide information about the seller, such as social media profiles and phone numbers.

Precautions Taken More by Women than Men in Online Marketplaces:

• Women are generally more cautious and engage in several safety precautions.
• Common precautions include checking buyer reviews and meeting in public for exchanges.
• Women are more likely to check buyer reviews (52% of women vs. 42% of men).
• Women are also more likely to meet in public for the exchange.
• However, more men compare prices to similar listings and reverse image search product photos.

Comfort Level with Spending Over $100 Without Seller Research:

• Less than a third (29%) of Americans are comfortable spending more than $100 on an online marketplace without first researching the seller.
• This indicates a cautious approach to online transactions, likely due to the fear of scams and the desire to avoid financial loss.