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Shop safely with Google search
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Well, as Christmas fast approaches, many of you will be using the internet to buy gifts for your friends and family, but don't let the ease and convenience of shopping from the comfort of your armchair, make you any less alert to the dangers of making an online purchase because at this time of year, the internet fraudsters move up a gear, re-doubling their efforts in their attempts to part you from your hard-earned cash and they are becoming ever more sophisticated in their online scams.
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The fraudsters know that the vast majority of online shoppers use Google to search for goods and services and know that if they are able to infiltrate Google's search results with links leading to their "fraudulent" web sites, there are "rich pickings" to be had.
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Google search results can be separated into two, "main" categories - "sponsored" and "non-sponsored." The "non-sponsored" results start at the top on the left of the page, but are sometimes "headed up" by one, two and sometimes, three "sponsored" results, the majority of which are positioned to the right of the page and are called "sponsored links." Google's "sponsored links" also appear on the right hand side of their Gmail account holders email messages and in millions of other, normal web sites.
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So, apart from positioning within Google's search results, What is the difference between "sponsored" and "non-sponsored" results?
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Well, for a highly competitive search phrase such as, "Nintendo-Wii," we can be "fairly certain" that the first page of the "non-sponsored" results (especially the first two or, three positions) will be occupied by links leading to the web sites of bonafide companies and should contain "legitimate" offers from "reputable" suppliers. This is because it is very difficult (takes a lot of time and effort and costs a lot of money) for a business to properly develop their web site, so that it appears on the first page of Google's "non-sponsored" search results. However, this doesn't apply for less competitive search phrases such as, "green armchair supplier" or, less "well-known" goods and services.
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The "sponsored links" however, are a completely different matter and quite often contain links to fraudulent web sites. To appear in the "sponsored link" results, all that a fraudster has to do, is to offer to pay (sometimes, just a few pence) to appear every time a certain search phrase is typed into Google.
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The fraudsters use popular names in their "sponsored links," names such as: Nintendo-Wii and Playstation and set themselves up as legitimate traders with professional looking web sites, usually with the product name incorporated into the name of their web site address. This is all calculated to make them look credible and to make you feel "safe" when purchasing their goods and services.
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Follow a few simple rules and the vast majority of you will succeed in making your purchases without any major difficulties, but please be aware:-
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1. Try to use "non-sponsored" links leading to suppliers that appear on the first page of your search results and if you do have to use a supplier from a "sponsored" link, check out their name and address by searching for them in yell.com or, something similar and telephone them and ask for assurances regarding stock availability and dispatch lead times.
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2. Remember, claims that seem to good to be true, usually are. An obvious way for a fraudster to attract you, is to offer to sell an item or, a service, much cheaper than their competitors so, make sure that you check out any special offers. Write down a few questions and give them a call.
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3. Always pay using a debit card if possible, if not, use Paypal or, some other insured scheme with a guarantee.
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4. When paying for goods and services, always make sure that you complete the details of your credit card into a form that is hosted on a secure server. The address that you should look for should begin https:// and not http://
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5. Check out stock availability and if you want delivery before Christmas, make sure that you order in plenty of time.
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6. Make sure that you read the suppliers terms and conditions, you know - the ones that you never read!
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7. Other risks include: buying goods that don’t match the description or, are not fit for the purpose, poor after sales service in the event that you need some help or, want to complain or, return your purchase and mis-use of your credit or, debit card details.
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Use the form below to ask questions or, to post your comments about this or, any other article on our web site.
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Add your comment to this article, reference number: 6651
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