Be wary of dubious e-stores

Some may have .sg domains, but a tell-tale sign is the fake address

Dubious merchants are setting up well-designed online stores and using sophisticated online tactics to dupe unsuspecting customers, the writer warns. Some overseas e-stores claim to be Singaporean companies, but one such store's website does not list
Dubious merchants are setting up well-designed online stores and using sophisticated online tactics to dupe unsuspecting customers, the writer warns. Some overseas e-stores claim to be Singaporean companies, but one such store's website does not list an address here. Instead it lists an office in the United States, and a Google Maps search shows the US address leading to an antique store along a coastal highway in the state of Delaware. PHOTO: GOOGLE MAPS
Standard Chartered Bank’s Natalia Goh says card holders should set up SMS alerts to be kept informed of all transactions.
Mr Vincent Tan from OCBC Bank warns that customers can be liable for card losses if they are lax on security.
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They take great pains to ensure that their websites are professionally designed. The products are well-displayed and there is even a section highlighting popular items based on customer purchases.

The checkout process is also user-friendly: buyers just need to input their credit card details; there is no need to sign up.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Sunday Times on July 26, 2020, with the headline Be wary of dubious e-stores. Subscribe