40 Hilarious Times People Ordered Something Online But It Wasn't What They Received (New Pics)

Dr. Castel was kind enough to tell us about some of the red flags to look out for when shopping online. "Look for anything that seems odd or unusual, such as repeated and rushed requests for personal information, spelling mistakes in the email or website address, the request to pay with gift cards, and the need to rush your decision and not ask questions," he explained to Bored Panda.

"When in doubt, wait to respond or make a purchase, and verify information whenever possible with others. Anytime you are contacted unexpectedly, by email, text or by phone, you can stop the communication, and take time to verify information or ask someone else about it," he said that it's vital to take the time to do some research.

Dr. Castel agreed with us that scams are always changing, however, he added that they often follow the same principles, such as "establishing trust, manipulating emotions, rushing you to make a decision, asking for immediate action, and pretending to be a business or government service that requires your personal information."

Scammers might pose as family members in need of help or can pretend to be interested in someone romantically to build their trust over a long period of time.

"Often we learn about scams by talking to others that have experienced them, or have fallen for similar scams. Thus, I think communication is key here, and there are help and support groups for fraud victims. However, often people are embarrassed about talking about their experiences," the UCLA professor implied that most people don't like feeling like a fools, especially in their social circles.

"We are all susceptible to scams, regardless of experience or level of education, as they target people’s basic emotional needs or target us when we are not paying attention, and then prey on our basic emotional responses to threat or opportunity. We do need to have our guard up but also know that to err is human, and talking about these experiences will hopefully make more people aware of how scams are everywhere and always evolving."

During an earlier interview, Dr. Castel explained to Bored Panda that nobody is immune to scams and that scammers target the vulnerable.

"Everyone and anyone is susceptible to scams, especially when we are placed in vulnerable positions, are being rushed, worried, or in an emotional state. While there is a stereotype that older adults are most likely to be scammed, people of all ages, and levels of education, can be a victim of fraud and scam," he explained.

"Scammers know that people respond to social influences, especially to authority, and will use fear and friendliness to create a powerful situation that induces compliance," Dr. Castel told us.

"In terms of trying to call out a scammer, you need to be careful how, when or why you would interact with scammers, as they often have access to your basic information, and talking to them more can make you a victim, especially if you share additional information about yourself," the psychology professor warned.

"Scammers work with large volumes and databases, so often it is just a matter of time that someone is going to be caught in a scam. Some advice: Don’t answer the phone, don’t be rushed, don’t provide information, and don’t be afraid to hang up,” he said that we should do our best to protect our private information.

It might feel like you have to ‘act now’ when you spot a good deal while surfing the net, but it’s healthy to take a step back, calm down, and think about things rationally. Don’t fall prey to impulsive spending. What’s more, take the time to actually do a bit of research about the product and—more importantly—about the seller. It takes a bit of patience, but even a simple background check can help you spot someone who’s suspicious and might be trying to take advantage of you.

"I think online shopping scams are different because you lose that layer of dealing with a real-life person. When you have a real person in front of you, a typical person will feel shame or guilt at the thought of taking advantage of a person,” one of the moderators from the r/Scams subreddit told Bored Panda that the people trying to pull the wool over others’ eyes have an easier time when they’re not doing it face to face.

“With the internet, you aren't dealing with a person, but a username and avatar. It is much easier to act maliciously when you don't have a real victim directly in front of you," they explained that the distance makes it easier for the scammers not to view their marks as actual people.