Shop online and make payments safely

Check the seller beyond the advert

A polished shop, social following or search advert does not prove a business is genuine. Look for consistent contact details, a clear returns policy and independent feedback. Check whether the seller's name and payment recipient make sense. Be cautious about unusually low prices and pressure to pay a deposit immediately.

Before you pay

Open a known marketplace or retailer directly instead of following an unexpected offer link.
Read the product description, total price, delivery terms and refund conditions.
Keep marketplace conversations and payments inside its protected process where available. Check the actual limits of buyer protection.
Verify the recipient name, amount and purpose on a mobile-money or bank prompt before approving.
Use a payment method with appropriate dispute options when available. Do not assume a transfer can always be reversed.
Save the listing, seller details, receipt and order reference.

Protect your payment details

Do not send card photographs, PINs, passwords or one-time codes to a seller. Avoid saving payment details on shared devices. A retailer may need a delivery address, but an ordinary purchase should not require your banking sign-in or remote control of your phone.

Watch for delivery and refund scams

A message claiming a parcel needs a small release fee can lead to a fake payment site. Open the courier's official service and check the tracking reference yourself. A refund should not require sending a new payment, sharing your PIN or approving an unexplained debit.

If the item never arrives or you paid a scammer

Contact the seller or marketplace through the original verified channel and retain the case reference. Contact your financial provider promptly to ask about available dispute or fraud procedures. If card details were exposed, ask the issuer how to secure the card. Record evidence and follow verified reporting guidance; recovery cannot be guaranteed.