Creative scammers have come up with a new way to scam you when you shop online.  For years, I have warned you about phony retail websites that either appear to be that of legitimate retailers such as Wallmart or are just websites that come up high in a search engine search when you are looking to buy a particular item that offer great prices.  Unfortunately, this problem has gotten worse with scammers now able to use AI to create phony retail websites that look entirely legitimate.  Also, merely because a website comes up high in a search engine search does not mean that it is legitimate.  Scammers either pay for a high position or are sufficiently savvy to create a site that the search engines’ algorithms will pick for a high position in a search.

In the past, the scammers would lure you into providing your credit card or debit card (which you should never use for purchases because the law does not protect you as much from fraudulent use) and then use your card to make purchases or if you provided your debit card, they will then access your bank account.  Now, however, the scammer are getting greedy.  When you attempt to use your credit card on their phony website you will be told that your card has been declined and so you need to use a second card.  Once you do, you have now turned over two credit cards to the scammer to use for fraudulent purchases in your name.

So how do you determine if you are on a legitimate website?

TIPS