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How to shop safely from an online store
Before you pay on a website you don't know
Most shopping scams don’t fool you with technology, but with haste and a price that’s too good. The good news: almost all of them give themselves away in a one-minute check. Here’s what to look at before you hand over your money.
Good signs — look for these
- The company's details are visible: name, CUI (the Romanian company registration number), address and a real contact (phone/email), not just a form.
- It has a clear returns and delivery policy — in the EU you have the right to return online purchases within 14 days.
- You can pay by card or on delivery, not only by transfer in advance.
- Real reviews, on independent sources (not just screenshots posted by the store itself).
- A correct web address, with https, no extra letters or odd hyphens in the domain.
Warning signs
- A price far too low compared to the market, plus pressure: "last items", "today only".
- It asks for payment only by direct bank transfer to a person, or in crypto.
- No company details, no real contact, text in broken Romanian.
- A brand-new domain, or it pushes you onto WhatsApp to "complete the order".
- Reviews all 5 stars, generic, all posted on the same day.
Reguli simple înainte să continui
- Google "[store name] + țeapă / review / păreri" (Romanian for "scam" and "opinions") before you pay.
- Check the company by its CUI on the official registers (ANAF, the Romanian tax authority / the Trade Register).
- Pay by card (you have the right to a chargeback), not by direct transfer to a person.
- Don't enter your card details on pages opened from ads — go to the website directly yourself.
- At the slightest doubt, don't buy. A serious store doesn't rush you.
Sources
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