Recently a couple of "too good to be true" posts have come up where someone is shopping for an item and finds a price that is "too good to be true." The come on is pretty professional. A store website is created with thousands of items for unbelievably low prices, in some cases hundreds of dollars below similar pricing on legitimate websites.
On the surface these websites look legit. They have contact information, list an address, return policies, shipping policies, etc. It is all part of the set up. They aren't. One conspicuous absence is a phone number.
If you should encounter such a site an easy way to check its validity is checking the address. Use Google Maps or Apple Maps, search for the address and use satellite view to see the location. Ask yourself, "Does this look like a business that has a warehouse full of boating items?" One recent address check showed the business in a house in a nice upscale residential development.
By ordering something from them, you reveal your email address, phone number, street address, and credit card information, even if the charge does not go through or a refund is issued. This information can be used for all kinds of nefarious purposes.
There is truth in the adage, if it seems too good to be true, then it's too good to be true and isn't. Be careful out there.
On the surface these websites look legit. They have contact information, list an address, return policies, shipping policies, etc. It is all part of the set up. They aren't. One conspicuous absence is a phone number.
If you should encounter such a site an easy way to check its validity is checking the address. Use Google Maps or Apple Maps, search for the address and use satellite view to see the location. Ask yourself, "Does this look like a business that has a warehouse full of boating items?" One recent address check showed the business in a house in a nice upscale residential development.
By ordering something from them, you reveal your email address, phone number, street address, and credit card information, even if the charge does not go through or a refund is issued. This information can be used for all kinds of nefarious purposes.
There is truth in the adage, if it seems too good to be true, then it's too good to be true and isn't. Be careful out there.
