The stigma has mostly gone away; thanks in large part to the ever-evolving technology around us. Nowadays, instead of only buying offline at a drugstore, people are often just as happy to purchase medication and supplements online. For those who are wary of giving out personal information or dealing with online scams, however, buying online can seem like a distant dream. Nevertheless, with a little planning and research, the sting of online scams and the embarrassment of revealing personal information to a stranger can be greatly reduced. In this article, you’ll learn about some of the tricks of buying online that won’t cost you a dime.
Create a Good Online Profile
First and foremost, you’ll want to make sure that you create a good online profile. This means getting a user name that doesn’t spell doom for your future sales (e.g., Miu, Bianca, Luz, Sophia, or James, as awful as they sound). Make sure to create a good profile picture that’s representative of who you are: neat, professional, and attractive. Additionally, you can take this opportunity to fill out your bio: include your occupation and a short blurb about yourself. Don’t worry too much about what to write, as this will become less important later on when making actual purchases (most notably, the more you write, the easier it will be to scam you—a common tactic among scammers).
Use a VPN For Anonymity
Whether you realize it or not, whenever you log in to a website or app that you’ve never used before, you’re giving away your personal information—even if it’s just a pop-up box asking you for your name and email address. To prevent your personal information from being stolen and used by hackers and scammers, you should use a VPN (virtual private network) to encrypt your internet traffic before it reaches the website or app that you’re visiting. Most VPNs are also completely free, which makes them an essential tool for privacy on the internet.
Set Up Some Safe Phrasing
On the subject of personal information, it’s important to note that not all websites are created equal. Some websites are totally safe to visit and will not ask for your personal data (e.g., eBay, Amazon, and Quora). However, there are plenty of dangerous websites out there that will try to trick you into giving them your personal data. Since you don’t know which ones are which, you’ll have to be extra careful. To avoid being scammed, make sure to use phrases like “I want to buy this product,” “I’d like to sign up for that service,” and “I’m looking for [insert product name].” Try not to use any slang or colloquialisms when browsing online, as this may lead to you being fooled by a scammer. Also, whenever possible, avoid clicking on suspicious links or visiting unknown websites—especially if you’re searching for an online drugstore.
Watch Out For Phishing
Just because a website is classified as “legal” or “safe” doesn’t mean that it’s not trying to scam you. One of the most popular ways that scammers try to get your personal data is through phishing—when they make it seem like an official company website, but instead send you to a fake site that looks exactly like the real thing. To protect yourself from phishing scams, make sure to never give out your personal data (e.g., credit card number, password, etc.) unless you are 100% sure that the website you are visiting is legitimate. In some cases, the scammer may even try to get you to log in to your account on the fake site so that they can steal your personal data. To avoid being scammed, don’t click on any suspicious links or enter any personal information on a website that you’re not confident is legitimate.
Do Your Research
When researching a product or service that you’re planning on ordering online, it’s important to do your research carefully. This means making sure to read reviews from previous customers as well as checking out the company’s official website. When reading reviews, look for words like “sales,” “scam,” and “fraud” to get an idea of whether or not the product or service is reputable.
Pay With Cash
Speaking of scams, one of the simplest yet most effective ways that scammers try to trick people is by asking you to pay with a credit card. The reason behind this is because they know that many people will be inclined to do it simply because it’s easier to do so than to use cash. However, you shouldn’t feel bad about paying with cash: it’s perfectly legal (and in some cases, it’s the only way to go). When paying with cash, however, it’s important to be careful about what kind of facility you’re using—some of them may not be as safe as you think. Keep your eyes open for scammers, and make sure to report any suspicious activity to the authorities.