The general manager of PaySBuy, Somwang Luangphaiboomsri, gives us a low down on what to look out for in a website to avoid online spams.

Up-to-date. Are there any new products? Most online stores have statistics showing how long they have been opened or when was the last time the shop got updated.

Identity. Check the “About Us” and “Contact Us” pages. They should have an introduction of who they are, the name of the shop owner and a phone number, not just a contact form. Also check if they have registered their shop with the Department of Business Development (www.dbd.go.th).

Method of Payment. Which method do they use? Be skeptical of the ones using bank transfer methods. If they use PaySBuy or other e-wallet services, that’s better. For credit cards, check if they have verification seals approved by credit card companies like Visa or MasterCard.

Google them. Search for the name of the shop, name of the owner, and their email or phone number and see what comes up. Disgruntled customers usually rant about their past experiences on public forums or blogs. Snooping is not a crime if you want to protect yourself.