S.A.F.E. Shopping: Your Guide to Smarter Social Media Shopping this Holiday Season

Social media is more than just a place for entertainment—it’s become a world-wide shopping mall in your pocket. Projected to hit a 1.2 trillion market value by 2025, social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram are now booming e-commerce sites, making shopping easier than ever.

However, scammers and threat actors can leverage the convenience of shopping on social apps to take advantage of unsuspecting shoppers. This is especially true during the Holiday Season, as consumers ramp up their purchases and look for unique gifts. By following our S.A.F.E. shopping framework, you can enjoy the best of social media shopping while avoiding common pitfalls.  

What is S.A.F.E. Shopping?

S – Secure payment

A – Authentic sellers

F – Fraud awareness

E – Educate yourself and empower others

Example of a S.A.F.E. shopping experience:

You’re scrolling on social media and see a video of an artist making custom shirts. The original video links directly to their in-app shop where you can read verified reviews, clear shipping policies. You use a secure payment gateway to place your order and when the shirt arrives, it looks just like the photos.

S – Secure Payment

Safe shopping starts with secure payment processing. You can protect your banking information by always using trusted and secure payment gateways.

How to know you’re using a secure payment gateway:

1. Look for HTTPS in the URL: Websites starting with https:// encrypt or protect your payment information.
2. Look for the padlock: Always check for the padlock symbol in the top left of your browser bar—it means the site is secure.
3. Shop and pay in the same place: TikTok shop, Instagram Shop, and PayPal all keep your payment and shipping information encrypted (protected) within their apps. Protect your payment information by completing your purchase inside the social media app.
4. Use trusted payment methods: PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Square, Shopify, and Square are a few examples of trusted online payment processors.

A – Authentic Sellers

Not every seller on social platform shops is legitimate.

Verify your seller and avoid fake accounts by looking for:

1. Verification badges: Look for verified sellers by checking for verification badges on social media apps.
2. Strong reviews: Read reviews and comments from across the internet. A lack of reviews is a bad sign!
3. Online presence: Do a quick search to see if the seller has a legitimate website or social media presence on other platforms.

F – Fraud Awareness

Fraudulent sellers often use similar tactics on social media to attract victims.

Avoid fraud by building awareness of these common red flags:

1. Too good to be true: Beware of shockingly low prices or extravagant product claims.
2. Vague descriptions: Missing or poorly written product descriptions can hint to low-quality or fraudulent items.
3. External links: Avoid sellers who re-direct you off of the social media app to unfamiliar websites where you need to re-enter your payment information.

Example of a fraudulent and unsafe shopping experience:

You click a TikTok Shop ad selling 80% off “high-quality leather boots” for the next two hours only! The link re-directs you to an unknown website where you need to re-enter your shipping and payment information. After placing the order, your boots arrive weeks late and look nothing like the video. Now, you’ve started to get unauthorized charges on your credit card. 

E – Educate Yourself & Empower Others

The power of social media can help others avoid scams and find trustworthy sellers.

1. Read platform policies: Know the refund and buyer protection policies of the app you’re using. (TikTok) (Instagram) (Facebook).
2. Leave honest comments: If you’ve had a bad experience with a seller, leave a polite but honest comment on their post. This will let others know something is wrong. Sharing positive shopping experiences in the comments help to educate others!
3. Spread awareness: If you spot a scam, report it on the app!

Got Scammed?

Don’t be embarrassed. You’re not alone—social media scams accounted for $1.4 billion in losses in 2023.

Follow these simple steps to protect yourself and others.

1. ❗ Report it using the platforms reporting tool.
   • TikTok Shop Safety Center
   • Report a product or seller on Instagram
   • Report a Facebook Marketplace Seller
2. Contact your bank to freeze your card and dispute unauthorized charges.
   • Call the customer service number on the back of your card.
3. Spread awareness by sharing your story and empowering others to avoid these common traps.