How to Steer Away from Scammers this Yuletide Season

I got scammed! I must admit, I recently fell victim to a scam. In my quest to purchase a luxury item for my mother as a Christmas gift to reward her hard work, I opted for a seemingly reputable online seller complete with video reviews and customer proof. Little did I know, everything was just a facade. After stumbling upon a Reddit thread, I discovered that the owner had successfully victimized numerous people this year, and they are collectively exploring legal avenues for recourse.

As we embrace the festive spirit of the Yuletide season, it is crucial to remain vigilant against potential scammers seeking to exploit the joyous atmosphere. With the heightened hustle and bustle during this time of year, individuals like the online shop scammer may become more prevalent.

This article aims to provide you with valuable insights on how to steer clear of scammers and safeguard yourself and your loved ones.

STAY INFORMED

Knowledge is your first line of defense against scammers. Stay informed about common scams circulating during this time. Scammers often adapt their tactics to match current events or holiday trends.

Be wary of phishing emails, fake charity solicitations, and fraudulent online shopping websites. Familiarize yourself with the latest scams to better recognize and avoid potential threats.

SECURE YOUR ONLINE PRESENCE

Online shopping has become increasingly popular, making it a prime target for scammers. Ensure your online accounts are secure by using strong, unique passwords and enabling two-factor authentication when available.

Verify the legitimacy of websites before making purchases, and only provide personal information on encrypted and trusted platforms.

MONITOR YOUR BANK STATEMENTS

Keep a close eye on your bank and credit card statements. You can also review your transactions via your banking app. Regularly review transactions to detect any unauthorized or suspicious activities promptly.

Report any discrepancies to your financial institution immediately to minimize potential losses and prevent further unauthorized access.

VERIFY CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS

The Yuletide season often inspires charitable giving, but scammers may exploit this generosity. Before making any donations, research the legitimacy of the charity or organization

Use reputable platforms to contribute and be cautious of unsolicited donation requests. Legitimate charities will provide transparency about their mission and purpose, use of funds, and contact information.

IN A NUTSHELL

Image Credits: unsplash.com

Learn from my mistake. As you embrace the joy of the Yuletide season, prioritize your safety and security. Safeguarding yourself from scams ensures that the season remains a time of celebration, generosity, and peace.

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GSS 2023 Goes Online with Month-Long 6.6 – 7.7 Great Shopee Sale Starting 6 June

Bargain hunters, get ready for an exciting month-long shopping extravaganza. From June 6th to July 9th, the 6.6 – 7.7 Great Shopee Sale promises to deliver incredible value and joy to shoppers, with over 100 million Shopee Coins up for grabs.

Over the years, Shopee has become an integral part of Singaporeans’ shopping journey, with more than 75% of users choosing to search, compare, and make purchases on the platform. Now in its 5th edition, GSS on Shopee has emerged as a significant milestone in the mid-year shopping season, delighting shoppers with an extensive array of discounts, promotions, and exciting rewards.

Winston Goh, Head of Marketing at Shopee, expressed his excitement about the upcoming event, stating,

“Our 6.6 – 7.7 Great Shopee Sale marks a key milestone in the mid-year shopping season, and is an opportunity to show our appreciation to our shoppers who have been a vital part of our success this year. By rewarding them with Shopee Coins, we aim to make their online shopping experience even more enjoyable, engaging, and fulfilling.”

This year, the focus of GSS revolves around the Shopee Coins rewards system, allowing shoppers to earn coins faster and across various channels. With upsized cashback vouchers and the highly popular Daily Shopee Shake game, participants have the chance to earn Shopee Coins in abundance. These coins, Shopee’s in-app currency, can be obtained through purchases, activities, livestreams, and more. For every 100 Shopee Coins earned, shoppers can enjoy a S$1 equivalent value, which can be used to offset transaction amounts or donated to chosen beneficiaries, making shopping on Shopee both gratifying and meaningful.

To further amplify the excitement surrounding the Great Shopee Sale, Shopee has collaborated with five local dancers who will showcase their skills in an iconic Shopee dance performance. This dance serves as the centerpiece of the Great Shopee Sale TV commercial, reflecting Shopee’s commitment to delivering a hyper-localized shopping experience that celebrates the diversity of its users. In line with this, Shopee has also launched the Great Shopee Sale Dance Challenge on TikTok, inviting users to participate for a chance to win up to 100,000 Shopee Coins.

But that’s not all! Shopee continues to enhance the convenience factor, allowing users to enjoy island-wide collection points for their purchases. In addition to doorstep delivery, shoppers can opt for self-collection at their convenience. With the extensive network of Shopee Xpress collection points and lockers, most homes are within a short distance of a collection point. Currently, there are nearly 600 shop locations across the island where customers can collect their packages for free, with no minimum spend. From convenience stores to eyewear shops, the options are diverse and cater to every shopper’s needs.

The month-long Great Shopee Sale is packed with exciting events, each offering attractive deals and vouchers. Here’s a sneak peek at what’s in store:

  • Great Shopee Sale (June 6th to 8th): Engage in the Daily Shopee Shake game to earn Shopee Coins, enjoy $60 upsized coin cashback, and avail of free shipping vouchers.
  • 15th Mid Month Mall Sale (June 15th): Make the most of $15 off $100 flash vouchers and take advantage of free shipping vouchers.
  • 25th Super Shiok Sale (June 25th to 27th): Indulge in the lowest prices on more than 250,000 bestsellers, get $25 coins cashback, and don’t forget to shake it up with the Daily Shopee Shake game.
  • Great Shopee Sale Finale (July 7th to 9th): Wrap up the month-long celebration with the Daily Shopee Shake, enjoy $50 upsized coin cashback, and snatch those free shipping vouchers.

Get ready to embark on a shopping spree like never before. Join the 6.6 – 7.7 Great Shopee Sale and stand a chance to earn over 100 million Shopee Coins, unlock unbeatable discounts, and experience the joy of online shopping at its finest. Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to be part of the digital shopping revolution. Visit https://shopee.sg/m/gss and mark your calendars for a month filled with endless shopping delights!

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How to Score Major Savings When Shopping Online

Online retailers are becoming increasingly creative these days with their flash sales and discount vouchers.

Thus, hunting for the best price online can seem like a chore. However, if you are a savvy deal hunter, you can use these clever shopping tips to earn discounts with minimum effort!

#1: CREATE A SHOPPING LIST

Have a clear idea of what you desire before shopping online. Create a list to stay focused and to steer away from unnecessary items. By listing down your potential purchases and prioritizing your needs, you can achieve your financial goal.

Keep in mind that the cheapest option may not always be the best. You need to consider quality and sustainability. For instance, purchase a laptop because of its specifications and not its price tag. There is no harm in shopping around to get the best price!

#2: COMPARE THE PRICES

Speaking of shopping around, you can get great deals by comparing prices online. Check different websites when shopping or use price comparison websites.

There are lots of price comparison websites, which consist of search functions to help you quickly uncover the lowest price. A website you can visit is iprice.sg.

#3: FOLLOW YOUR FAVORITE BRANDS

Similar to reading newsletters, companies often use social media to provide exclusive promotions and deals to their followers. You will be the first to hear about these deals, which is a key factor when deals are available in limited quantities.

You can also join giveaways and contests when you follow your favorite brands on social media. Who knows? You might just get your favorite products for free!

#4: TIME YOUR SHOPPING ACTIVITIES

Do not check out your items on a tempting, lazy Sunday. Most stores roll out their discounts and deals on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. Be vigilant these days.

It is a different story for airline tickets. Tickets are most expensive on Mondays and cheapest on Sundays. According to Airlines Reporting Corporation, Sundays offer the cheapest round-trip tickets.

#5: PUT A WAITING PERIOD FOR YOUR ITEMS

To increase awareness about shopping, consider putting an item in your cart and letting it stay there for a day. The waiting period will allow you to contemplate whether you want to purchase the item or not. Moreover, some brands will email you regarding your abandoned cart and provide you with better options or discount coupons.

Not all brands do this. Just be sure to enter your email address to stay updated.

#6: ESTABLISH AN ONLINE SHOPPING BUDGET

If you are building up your savings or having trouble with money now, you need to create a shopping budget. Having a plan in place will help you avoid temptations such as “buy one take one” or “free shipping with no minimum amount spent”.

Image Credits: unsplash.com

Remember that your budget is closely tied to your shopping list. The essential items needed to be bought online should be prioritized. Create categories for your shopping list and prioritize items that are necessary for your household goals. Then, set aside cash for your wants or nice to haves. See how things fit into your overall budget.

Sources: 1, 2, & 3

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How To Exercise Self-Control When Shopping?

The ability to regulate and alter your responses to avoid undesirable behaviors and increase desirable ones is called self-control. Self-control helps you achieve your long-term financial goals. Studies showed that having self-control can be important for your health and well-being.

People use a myriad of terms for self-control such as discipline, determination, willpower, grit, and fortitude. The ability to delay gratification and resist unwanted urges is self-control.

Achieve your long-term financial goals by reducing your spending. Start by applying self-control when you shop.

#1: SHOP WITH A FRIEND

Shopping with a friend is a good strategy for dealing with compulsive spending. Salespeople are trained to play the role of your friend to encourage you to buy more. Hence, having your friend along can help you weigh your options.

Compulsive and impulse shopping play on your complex emotional urges. Avoid shopping while you are angry, sad, or hungry. If you are feeling these states, you cannot rely on the internal resources that are used to curb your impulses.

#2: CARRY CASH AROUND

It is easy to get carried away when you are paying for the items via credit card. Increase your awareness while you are shopping by opting for cash. Paying by cash slows down your transaction because you must think about your purchase.

When you pay with cash, the impact of buying is more dramatic. You are forced to see and feel what is happening to you now.

#3: HAVE A 24-HOUR RULE

Although you are eyeing an item for a while, ensure that you are getting a good deal by setting the 24-hour rule. Ask the physical store to hold your item for at least 24 hours. This will give you enough time to think about the item before purchasing. This rule can be applied to online stores too. Put the item in your cart and wait for the next day to buy it. Do you really need to buy it?

The ability to delay gratification or to wait to get what you desire is an important part of self-control. Delaying gratification involves putting off short-term desires in favor of long-term rewards.

#4: STEER AWAY FROM TEMPTATION

Reduce the temptation by going on shorter shopping trips or by visiting fewer websites. Spending less time window shopping can help reduce the number of products you see and like. By exposing yourself to fewer temptations, you will have more energy to make thoughtful spending decisions.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Sources: 1 & 2

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When Should You Add To Cart?

With all the advertisements on social media and all the Christmas promotions along the Orchard Road, we are constantly bombarded with visions of owning new things. The marketers know how to push our buttons and how to make us click “buy now”.

Pause for a while! There are ways to tame our desires. Wanting is an emotional response to being unsatisfied with what you already have. Satisfying wants can give you a temporary high, but it wears off. Consider the following factors when deciding to purchase something or not.

#1: PRICE

The first question to ask yourself is whether you can afford the item or not. This question is not as simple as it sounds. If you can afford the item, you must ensure that the money is coming out of your budget and not from your credit card. Do not spend money that you are expecting to get.

Lastly, you can save money for a big purchase if you cannot afford it now. Asking money instead of gifts for your birthday or wedding can be doable too.

#2: OPTIONS

Study your options before adding the item to your cart. This will give you time to ponder about the purchase. You can either do window shopping in the nearby shopping malls or browse different online shops. Consider what you already have and weigh the costs of the possible purchase.

#3: QUALITY

Know the quality of your purchase by reading the online reviews. What do others think about the item? Ask your friends for their opinion regarding the item too. They may give you tips on where to get the most affordable and durable option.

More than the style or the brand, consider if the functions of the item will last you for a long time. Unless what you already have is obsolete, buying a similar item is wasteful.

#4: PURPOSE

Distinguish whether what you aim to purchase is a want or a need. If you do not need the item, you may want to reconsider the purpose of your purchase. You can save money to make room for the things you want.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

On the other hand, a need is a requirement or a necessary duty. Buying what you need should be a priority. Adjust your budget to fulfill your daily needs. Always try to get the best value for your money.

Sources: 1, 2, & 3

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