What fraud schemes are used in online markets and how to avoid them?

The growing popularity of online markets attracts many scammers. Victor Ievlev, head of the information security department of the Garda group of companies, told Gazeta.Ru what are the most common fraud schemes used by criminals.

Phishing is at the top of the list. Attackers create fake websites that look like the websites of popular online marketplaces and use various methods to mislead users and convince them to enter their personal and bank card details on the fake platform.

The second most frequently used scheme implies the following: criminals direct the buyer to a messenger for further communication and provide fake links for payment. As a result, the funds go to the account of the fraudsters, not the seller.

"In some cases, scammers pose as sellers and report that the product is unavailable and offer a refund through a phishing site. This harms not only the users, but also the reputation of the stores," said the expert.

In order to protect yourself from scammers, Ievlev recommends following the basic rules of cyber hygiene. In particular։

• Use a strong password,
• Do not attach the salary card to the personal account of the online market,
• Regularly top up the balance with a special card for online purchases,
• Do not go through the links provided by the seller,
• Carefully study reviews and ratings about stores.

"If you notice suspicious activity, contact the technical support center and cancel all pending orders," he advised.

Analysts predict that e-commerce will account for 25% of global retail sales by 2027.