Scams on the internet are becoming more and more fraudsters more and more clever. In 2012 (last official figure): 700 000 households have shown themselves as victims of a scam on the bank card on a website. There is also a Central Office for Combating Crime Related to Information and Communication Technologies (which depends on the Ministry of the Interior).

A single slogan to avoid getting caught: we do not order in a hurry. On the contrary, you get the maximum information about the reliability of the online merchant site before falling into the panel and being ripped off.

Our 5 tips for dodging fraud on the internet.

I am wary of prices too low

On some online merchant sites, offers are enticing. Sometimes a little too much! We use our common sense : a pair of Louboutin shoes sold at 100 € is a bit big. " Too good to be true ! "If that's what you feel after you've gotten the" good deal ", it's surely there's an eel under rock.

I take a look at the legal mentions of the site

Name and legal form of the company, postal address, telephone number, e-mail address ... If the legal notices of the merchant website are absent, incomplete or difficult to find, this is not a good sign. Any company that has nothing to reproach should in any case indicate this info (legal) on its site. Otherwise ... scam in line of sight!

I try to call customer service

If the site looks suspicious, we try to reach the customer service (or online shop) before placing an order. There is a concern that the number is incorrect or that no one answers after multiple attempts.

I do not confuse bank transfer and debit

Bank transfer is the best way to scam on the internet, quickly done well. The transfer can not be canceled and the money transferred is lost. Before ordering too quickly on the internet, we make the tour of the payment methods proposed. The serious websites offer online payment by direct debit, where you must give your bank card codes via a secure space. Some (like Voyages-SNCF) will even send a code by text which must then be added to validate its order.

However, we do not fall into the paranoia eagle: most merchant websites are reliable and secure.

I read reviews and comments on forums

By typing the name of the seller or online store into a search engine, one can access consumer reviews on forums (such as those of 60 Million and Que Choisir) . Some people who had a nasty surprise when ordering on this site can then help us pinpoint the fraudulent nature of an online merchant site.

Thanks to Glynnis Makoundou, legal expert for the e-commerce brand Trusted Shops