Use trusted retailers, verify URLs, and pay with cards rather than direct bank transfers.
A safe online shopping checklist: verify the URL is exactly correct before entering payment details (a single transposed letter signals a fake site), confirm the connection is HTTPS, check the seller's reviews on independent platforms, and for unfamiliar sites, search the company name plus "reviews" or "scam" before purchasing.
Fake e-commerce sites are designed to harvest payment information, not fulfill orders. They copy the design of legitimate sites, create plausible domain names, and offer attractive prices to lure buyers. After a "purchase," the product never arrives and the card details are sold.
Use a credit card rather than a debit card for online purchases. Credit cards provide better fraud protection in most jurisdictions, and payment disputes are resolved before the money leaves your account. Alternatively, use a virtual card number for one-time purchases to limit exposure.
Prices that seem dramatically too good are a reliable warning sign. Fake sites selling luxury goods at 80% discounts or brand-name electronics at half price are attempting to override your skepticism with the prospect of a bargain. If the price seems impossibly low, it is.