A friend of mine responded to an ad on Facebook for Bombas socks that seemed incredibly cheap. However, it wasn’t true and she never received the socks she ordered. Some ads that claim to offer name brand products at incredibly low prices actually send cheap knockoffs.
In theory, Facebook vets ads, but from what I’ve seen, a fair number of scammers are able to promote branded products that simply can’t be delivered at the price. A 2023 post by Fox News’ Cyberguy pointed out numerous fraudulent Facebook Marketplace ads, including one showing a $19.99 Canon EOS Rebel T7 camera with an extra telephoto lens being sold on Amazon for $479 without the telephoto lens. Plus, if you buy “today only,” you can get an HP laptop for $23.
Facebook has rules against scams, but unscrupulous merchants find ways to get around them.
Amazon’s Merchant Network
You might think that Amazon only sells genuine products, but Amazon is more than just a seller. Some products are sold directly by Amazon, but many are sold by third-party sellers. If you look closely, you might see “Sold by” or “Ships from” on the product page. If it’s not Amazon, you can click on the seller’s name to see more details about the seller, including a summary of user reviews.
If the product was purchased from a third-party seller, we are not sure if you can take advantage of Amazon’s return policy, so look for “free returns” under the product price on the Amazon page.
I sometimes buy bargain no-name products on Amazon, but I not only look at the reviews, I also make sure they are returnable. It’s not uncommon to find cheap no-name electronics on Amazon that work fine despite the low price, but you can’t be sure. I once bought a bargain USB flash drive that didn’t work; luckily, Amazon let me return it and refunded my money. On the other hand, I recently bought a very cheap label printer and a cheap pair of earphones that worked just fine.
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In most cases, Amazon allows 30-day returns, but check before you buy to see if returns are possible. I have taken advantage of Amazon’s return policy after trying a product and deciding it wasn’t as good as advertised. Some other online retailers, such as Walmart, offer returns up to 90 days. Items purchased at Walmart.com, Target.com, or Costco.com can be returned at the respective stores. Amazon usually allows returns to Whole Foods, Kohls, Staples, or UPS, but it depends on the item. You can’t know for sure until you go through the online return process.
If you buy a returnable product, be sure to try it out during the return period and keep the packaging until you’re sure it’s OK. If you have a problem after the return period, call the seller to see if they can make an exception. I bought a coffee maker on Amazon that broke about 4 months later. I tried to make a warranty claim, but the company went out of business. I explained this to an Amazon phone support rep and they allowed me to return it, even though it was well past the return deadline.
Avoid phishing
Be especially wary of offers you receive via email, text, or direct messages on social media, especially if you don’t recognize the seller. If you find an offer that looks trustworthy, compare the price with the price you found on Amazon. It may be cheaper on Amazon, but if the seller’s price is much lower, you have reason to doubt its legitimacy.
Research the seller
If you’re interested in buying something from a seller other than a well-known online retailer, do your research before ordering. Visit the seller’s website to verify their address, phone number, and email address, and consider calling or emailing them to see if they respond. Look for reviews on independent sites, but be skeptical of any reviews you see on those sites. Don’t make a purchasing decision based on one or two reviews; in most cases, you’ll find some very positive and some negative. Read multiple reviews to get an idea of what people think of both the product and the seller.
If you’re going to enter your credit card or other personal information on a site, look in your browser’s address bar to see if it has HTTPS, which indicates a secure connection. You should also see a padlock icon next to the URL in your browser.
Pay only with credit cards, debit cards, or trusted payment services such as Paypal, Google Pay, or Apple Pay. Never pay with cash or wire transfers. Never pay with gift cards. If you think you’ve been scammed, or if you received nothing or a product that was clearly not what was promised, contact your bank, credit card company, or payment service. The credit card company will have to “charge back” the amount and investigate the claim. With a bank-issued debit card, it can be a bit more complicated, but you still have some level of protection.
Above all, use your critical thinking skills — when in doubt, stop and think or ask someone you trust — and remember that if something seems too good to be true, it probably is a lie.
Larry Magid is a technology journalist and Internet safety activist. He can be reached at larry@larrymagid.com.
First published: August 15, 2024, 8:00 AM
