Stay safe online
Shopping safety
Google helps consumers to find products in a number of different ways and, while we don’t control the content on the web, we want to help consumers to shop safely online. The vast majority of online transactions go ahead without problems, but there are some risks, and that’s why we’ve created these tips to help.
Research your purchase
- If it’s too good to be true … it usually is. Compare the price that you’re seeing with similar goods being sold elsewhere. If the price is significantly different, use caution – make sure that you research the seller and ask questions about the condition of the item.
- Research unfamiliar sellers: If you haven’t bought from a merchant before, check beforehand to make sure that they’re legit. For example, do a web search for reviews from other buyers with experience of the seller. Legitimate merchants should provide you with contact information that you can reference if you have any questions or problems with your transaction. Never wire money to a seller you haven’t reviewed very thoroughly, and stay alert for phishing attempts.
Before you buy
- Use a payment method with buyer protections: Credit card companies often limit your liability for online purchases in cases of fraud.
- Read the fine print: Before you purchase, make sure that you’re familiar with the seller’s delivery, warranty and returns policy. Some shops will offer full refunds, while others charge restocking fees and only give store credit.
Privacy and security tips
- Make sure that your passwords are strong
- Only send information over secure connections
- Avoid conducting financial transactions on public computers
Receiving the item
- Keep a record of the transaction: Having a digital or paper copy of large transactions can help you if you do need to make a return or contest unauthorised charges made to your account.
- Make sure that you’ve got what you paid for: Once you’ve received the item, give it a quick once-over to make sure that everything is as it should be. The sooner you can try to address a case of fraud, the better chance you have to resolve it positively.
Combatting counterfeiting
No one wants to get tricked into buying counterfeit goods. Counterfeit goods contain a trademark or logo that is identical to or substantially indistinguishable from the trademark of another. They mimic the brand features of the product in an attempt to pass themselves off as a genuine product of the brand owner or they promote the goods as faux, replicas, imitations or clones of the original product.
We provide brand holders and users with forms to report abuse, which you can find in our Help Centre. In addition, we invest significant engineering and machine resources to prevent violations of ad policies, including counterfeiting.
Report abuse of Google services
Where Google services can be used to advertise or sell goods and services, we count on companies and users to report violations of our policies. You can do so here:
Additional help
The European Consumer Centres Network helps consumers with cross-border shopping issues.
It’s good to know that you can follow these tips to help avoid making risky transactions online. Read the next topic: Locking your screen
