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03 January 2020 Online scams never give discounts, reminds the Postal Police, which suggests ten rules to avoid nasty surprises in this sales period.



Using complete and updated software and browsers


It may seem trivial, but the first step to buy safely is to always have a good antivirus updated to the latest version on your computer device.

The latest antivirus systems (free or paid) also provide protection in the choice of purchases on the Internet.

Furthermore, for greater online security, it is necessary to update the browser used to browse to the latest version available because every day new threats can make it vulnerable.



Give preference to certified or official sites


On the net it is possible to find excellent bargains but when an offer is too convenient compared to the actual market price of the product you intend to buy, then it is better to check on other sites.

It could be a fake or turn out to be a scam.

It is advisable to give preference to online stores of large chains already known because in addition to offering security in terms of payment, they are also reliable with regard to assistance and the guarantee on the purchased product and on its shipment.

In the case of little-known sites, you can check for security certificates such as TRUST and VERIFIED / VeriSign Trusted that allow you to validate the website's reliability.



A site must have the same references as a real shop!


Before completing the purchase, check that the site is provided with references such as a VAT number, a landline telephone number, a physical address and further details to contact the company.

A site with no such data probably doesn't want to be trackable and may have something to hide.

Tax data are easily verifiable on the institutional website of the Revenue Agency.



Always read the comments and feedback of other buyers


Before proceeding to purchase the chosen product, it is a good idea to read the "feedback" posted by other users on the site that sells it.

Even information on the reliability of the site through search engines, on forums or on social networks is very useful: the "rumors" about a scam site circulate quickly online!



On a smartphone or tablet, use the official apps of the online stores


If you choose to buy from large online stores, the advice is to use the official Apps of the relevant stores to complete the purchase.

This simple trick allows you to avoid the risks of "passing" or "being directed" to fraudulent sites or clone sites that could capture the financial and personal data entered to complete the purchase.



Use mainly rechargeable credit cards


To complete a purchase transaction, a few data such as card number, card expiry date and address for the shipment of goods are essential.

If a seller asks for additional information, he or she probably wants to take personal information (account number, PIN or password) which, as such, you must jealously guard and not disclose.

At the time of completing the purchase, the presence of the closed padlock at the bottom of the page or of "https" in the address bar are further confirmations on the confidentiality of the data entered on the site and the presence of a user protection protocol, or data is encrypted and not shared.



Do not fall into the network of phishing and / or smishing,


or in the network of those scammers who, through counterfeit emails or text messages, require you to click on a link in order to reach a trap web page and exploiting psychological mechanisms such as urgency or gaining a personal advantage, they will manage to steal personal information such as passwords and credit card numbers for illegal purposes.

The Internet address to which these links refer always differs, even if slightly, from the original one.



A well-structured ad is more reliable


Read the ad carefully before responding: if it seems too short or provides little information, don't hesitate to ask the seller for more.

Ask the seller for more information about the item you want to buy and if the published photos seem too good to be true, search the net and find out if they have been copied from other sites!



Not always ... it's always a good deal


Be wary of an object put up for sale at a ridiculously low price, it's not always a bargain: make sure there isn't too much difference between the proposed and market prices!



Do not trust


Doubt who asks to be contacted outside the ad platform with ambiguous emails but also who is in too much of a hurry to close the deal.