Shopping online? Seems so convenient isn't it? And it's sometimes way cheaper, too!
But before you go and send that money, here are some tips not to be fried!
1. First, research about the company that you will be buying from. Google their company name, contact person, even email address and type scam (e.g. "Orient Trade" Scam ). Sometimes, as easy as that, you get to know if the seller is a scam or not. You will find blogs, lists, forums of people telling their experiences with such sellers. You could also ask them what ever questions you may have.
2. Try to trace their email. Scammers easily create a new identity, a new email (especially with lots of free accounts such as yahoo, hotmail, google, etc), which could be created from anywhere in the world. For me, I use Email Trace. They have a box there, and I could copy and paste the email address heading. Sometimes, it's only accurate to the country, but that's fine with me (it said that I'm surfing from Rizal, but actually I'm from QC). I have some potential sellers saying they're from UK, but they're actually from Nigeria (where majority of scammers live). It's just a little hard to trace, when the seller is Chinese :).
3. Try to verify online their authenticity. For me, I try and ask for the seller to take an actual photo of the item that I am buying, requesting for him to write his company name as background. I also tell him to send an actual picture of the serial numbers, etc.
Another buyer told me, he wants to see an actual photo of the delivery receipt with his name on it and the total price, with the items that he's buying.
4. If you've researched, verified, and convinced yourself that he's ligit, then the next step: Payment! Trust me, there's nothing like COD if you live in the same country and can do meet-ups (actually most of the above things I'm not so strict on when I know I could easily contact and meet the seller).
Western Union and Bank Wire Transfers don't have protection! NEVER SEND MONEY through that unless you really KNOW and SEEN this person. It cannot guarantee anything. They are just the messengers, and once the money was delivered, they basically cannot do anything. Even if you complain to them, give them evidence, there is really nothing that they can do... Especially if it's an international transaction. Just wish and pray that karma will come. Scammers insist on this payment method because you won't catch them once they got your money. They claim to have no other modes of payment? That's bull! If they're a big company that serious in making their customers happy, there is always a way!
If the transaction is from eBay, and you pay using PayPal, it's easily covered by the Buyer Protection Program. So, you will... eventually received your item (sometimes it takes so long because of the customs). However, take a look at that package and test it before you go and rate your seller. Sometimes, there are defects. And if there are complaints or if you didn't get your package or the seller doesn't reply to you after you paid (which happens a lot for those scheming $%&*@), you can go to PayPal and file a resolution dispute. (I experienced this, so I should know.)
If the transaction is outside ebay, and you are using PayPal, there is still a chance of Buyer protection, though I haven't tested it out yet (I am still in the middle of a resolution dispute conducted outside eBay).
5. Next step: shipping! If there is an option to choose shipping, avoid using EMS at all costs! Especially if you live in the Philippines! Try to google "EMS Philippines" and you will see lots of blogs and forums with complaints on the corruption of the Customs and the length of unnecessary time standing by in the Post.
A friend told me FedEx is still the best, though it's really more expensive. But hey, better safe than sorry right? I'm telling you now, once you still have the chance.
Because I'm now in a middle of a resolution dispute, because either the seller didn't send the items yet (but he did send me the tracking number already; just that the status haven't been updated in a week! I'm getting white hairs from worry!) Or it really is here in the Philippines, but since it's EMS, I will get it in a month's time! Geez...
Yup, it was actually all that worrying in my mind that prompted me to write this blog and share my "wisdom"...