{"type":"document","data":{"id":"f13c0963-c68f-4bdb-be9b-7ceb5e9d0244","localeString":"en-GB","publishDate":"2025-06-04T11:45:05.785+02:00","contentType":"onecms:editorialPage","hasMacro":false,"flexPageMetadata":{"afmBanner":false,"robotInstruction":{"noIndex":false,"noFollow":false},"description":"Find out how to identify and avoid fake websites."},"mainHeaderZone":{"componentType":"editorialHeader","coreHeader":{"title":"Shop securely online","body":"Do you often shop online? Watch out for fake online shops! We'll give you some tips on how to spot them and avoid being scammed."},"backLink":{"textLink":{"url":"/en/individuals/fraud-and-security/online-security","text":"Online security"}},"date":"2025-06-04","readingTime":4},"flexZone":{"flexComponents":[{"componentType":"paragraph","title":"Don't give your money to fraudsters:","richBody":{"value":"<p></p>"},"video":{"type":"video","originalUrl":"https://assets.ing.com/m/48cc2023572e0ee2/original/Online-shopping-EN.mp4","videoPreviewURLs":["https://assets.ing.com/asset/3cae1e08-401c-41be-9d00-0c4acf9eebce/1080p/Online-shopping-EN.mp4","https://assets.ing.com/asset/3cae1e08-401c-41be-9d00-0c4acf9eebce/720p/Online-shopping-EN.mp4","https://assets.ing.com/asset/3cae1e08-401c-41be-9d00-0c4acf9eebce/mp4/Online-shopping-EN.mp4","https://assets.ing.com/asset/3cae1e08-401c-41be-9d00-0c4acf9eebce/480p/Online-shopping-EN.mp4"],"thumbnails":{"mini":"https://assets.ing.com/m/48cc2023572e0ee2/mini-Online-shopping-EN.jpg","webimage":"https://assets.ing.com/m/48cc2023572e0ee2/webimage-Online-shopping-EN.jpg","thul":"https://assets.ing.com/m/48cc2023572e0ee2/thul-Online-shopping-EN.jpg"},"extension":["mp4"]}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"How can you spot fake online shops?"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"<p>Did you know that some online shops are fake sites created by cybercriminals? These sites are hard to recognise, because they copy the look and even sometimes use the name of well-known retailers. So how can you identify them? These tips may help:</p><ul><li><strong>Beware of sites that display much lower prices than elsewhere</strong>. There&apos;s a very good chance that the products sold are counterfeits, stolen goods, or worse - fake products that will never reach you!</li><li><strong>Spelling or grammar errors</strong> may also be a sign that a site is fake.</li><li>If you come across a site that bears a very strong resemblance to a well-known online shop but with <strong>a slight difference in the name</strong>, be careful!</li></ul>"}},{"componentType":"highlight","title":"An example?","richBody":{"value":"<p>You may be in the habit of shopping on https://www.zalando.com. If you find a site that claims to be Zalando and has the address http://store-zalandocom.com, don&apos;t trust it!</p>"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"How can you shop securely online?"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"<p>You&apos;re now able to spot fake websites if you visit them. Sounds good! But it&apos;s even better to avoid them. Follow these tips <strong>to shop securely online</strong>.</p><ul><li>As far as possible, <strong>shop on sites that you already know</strong>, that you&apos;ve purchased from before and trust.</li><li>If the shop has <strong>its own app</strong>, use it. In this way you are sure that you are purchasing from the correct shop.</li><li>When you visit a new site, check whether the <strong>postal address </strong>is legitimate and whether there&apos;s a phone number for service-related questions. If in doubt, phone to make sure you&apos;re talking to a human being.</li><li>Another good way of finding out if the site is legitimate is to paste its name or URL into a search engine and <strong>see what other web users have to say about it</strong>. Caution: a lack of comments may also be a sign that the site was created recently, and may not be reliable.</li><li>Make sure that you&apos;re <strong>surfing with an encrypted connection</strong>. To check this, look for a lock symbol or &quot;https&quot; in green at the start of the site&apos;s URL.</li></ul>"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"What card should you use for online shopping?"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"<p>You can pay for your online purchases with any bank card (debit card or credit card).</p>"}},{"componentType":"highlight","title":"Good to know","richBody":{"value":"<p>Most credit cards and even some debit cards have an insurance for online purchases.</p>"}},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"<p>Keep an eye on your bank card statements to <strong>spot suspicious transactions</strong>, especially after buying items online. If you want to contest a transaction, contact:</p><ul><li><strong>Worldline </strong>via <a href=\"https://mijnkaart.be\">mijnkaart.be</a> / <a href=\"https://macarte.be\">macarte.be</a> for transactions carried out with a <strong>credit card</strong></li><li><strong>the bank</strong> for transactions carried out with a <strong>debit card</strong>.</li></ul><p>If you think you are victim of fraud, <strong>block the card </strong>in question by calling CARD STOP on 078 170 170 and then<strong> report the fraud</strong> at Worldline or the bank, depending on the card used. <span lang=\"en-BE\" dir=\"ltr\"><span><span><span>Sending a new ING card costs 9,99 euros.</span></span></span></span></p>"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"What's next?"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"<p>You&apos;re all set to make online purchases securely! But don&apos;t forget that it&apos;s also important to secure your devices, fixed and mobile.</p>"},"textLinks":[{"url":"/en/individuals/fraud-and-security/online-security","text":"Find all our tips on this subject on our \"Online security\" page."}]}]},"complementaryZone":{"flexComponents":[{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"Also interesting!"},{"componentType":"cards","cards":[{"componentType":"articleCard","cardType":"article","cardSize":"medium","title":"Victim of fraud?","body":"Contact us immediately, online or by phone. 24hrs a day, 7 days a week.","image":{"transformBaseUrl":"https://assets.ing.com/transform/6d7bf4a0-c5d2-4c25-8a2f-e65815bc3426/report-phishing-1920","type":"image","width":1920,"original":"https://assets.ing.com/m/2522f8571c5a2e9/original/report-phishing-1920.jpg","extension":"jpg"},"date":"2024-05-06","link":{"url":"/en/individuals/fraud-and-security/online-fraud/report-fraud"}},{"componentType":"articleCard","cardType":"article","cardSize":"medium","title":"I protect my smartphone","body":"A secured smartphone thanks to our advice","image":{"transformBaseUrl":"https://assets.ing.com/transform/7c835110-c540-4087-9b25-7ca93d1eba07/Close-up-of-two-people-holding-phones-at-a-table","type":"image","width":4032,"altTextEN":"\"\"","altTextNL":"\"\"","altTextFR":"\"\"","altTextDE":"\"\"","original":"https://assets.ing.com/m/6cbc2f1c018dff6/original/Close-up-of-two-people-holding-phones-at-a-table.jpg","extension":"jpg"},"date":"2023-04-05","link":{"url":"/en/individuals/fraud-and-security/online-security/smartphone-protection"}},{"componentType":"articleCard","cardType":"article","cardSize":"medium","title":"I surf securely","body":"The right behaviour on the internet","image":{"transformBaseUrl":"https://assets.ing.com/transform/94b5717f-ec98-4db4-927b-e4b2244f3b05/Father-and-his-two-children-sitting-at-a-table-looking-at-a-laptop","type":"image","width":5243,"altTextEN":"\"","altTextFR":"\"","altTextDE":"\"","original":"https://assets.ing.com/m/20540ade750d0394/original/Father-and-his-two-children-sitting-at-a-table-looking-at-a-laptop.jpg","extension":"jpg"},"date":"2023-04-05","link":{"url":"/en/individuals/fraud-and-security/online-security/surf-safely-and-securely"}},{"componentType":"articleCard","cardType":"article","cardSize":"medium","title":"The ING QR Code","body":"A weapon against fraud","image":{"transformBaseUrl":"https://assets.ing.com/transform/cfac491f-ddba-4196-b2b2-7aa5c3514282/BOY-ON-RAILROAD-TRACKS","type":"image","width":2160,"original":"https://assets.ing.com/m/2cc5b0379d8265d6/original/BOY-ON-RAILROAD-TRACKS.jpg","extension":"jpg"},"date":"2023-10-10","link":{"url":"/en/individuals/daily-banking/ing-qr-code"}}]}]}}}