Urgency is the scammer's favourite weapon. Learn to tell a legitimate alert from a fake notification and protect your purchases with tools like price history.
When you see a price that seems too good to be true, the temptation to click immediately is strong. But that's exactly where the danger hides: scammers use urgency to lower your defences. In this guide to safe online shopping: how to avoid scams, I'll explain how to recognise a phishing message that mimics a deal, which payment methods really protect you, and why you should never leave the seller's platform to pay. Let's start with the basics.
What is phishing in deals and why does it work?
Phishing is an attempt to steal your personal or financial information by pretending to be a trustworthy entity. When it comes to deals, criminals exploit the same psychology that drives bargain hunting: haste. An email or SMS saying "Flash deal: Bluetooth headphones for £9.99 – expires in 2 hours" triggers the fear of missing out. Here's the mechanism: the less time you have to think, the more likely you are to click on a fake link.
Glitchoo publishes verified deals with Trust Score and 90-day price history precisely to give you back control. Our method is transparent: if a deal is real, the historical price comparison proves it, not a screaming banner.
Signs to recognise a fake message
A legitimate alert always comes from a source you know and can verify. Here are common warning signs:
- Unknown sender: the email address looks odd (e.g. [email protected]) or the phone number isn't official.
- Exaggerated urgency: "Last chance!" or "Just for you, today" with no reference to your purchase history.
- Suspicious link: hover over the link (without clicking) and check the URL. If it contains misspellings or domains like "amaz0n-offer.info", it's fake.
- Request for personal data: Amazon, eBay, or any serious marketplace never asks for your password, credit card, or verification code via email or SMS.
How to tell a Glitchoo alert from a phishing attempt
Our alerts (emails, site notifications) always use the official domain glitchoo.com and contain only links to site pages, never directly to external payment pages. If you receive a message saying you've won a "prize" or asking you to download an unknown app, it's phishing. We never send files or request sensitive data.
Secure payment methods and why you should never leave the platform
The safest way to pay online is through the seller's standard checkout process. On Amazon, for example, payment always happens within the site or official app, never via bank transfer, top-up, or external links. Recommended methods are:
| Method | Protection offered | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Credit card (Visa, Mastercard) | Chargeback | You can dispute the charge in case of fraud |
| PayPal | Buyer protection | Covers items not received or not as described |
| Prepaid card (e.g. Pockit) | None (unless insured) | Not recommended for purchases from unknown sites |
| Bank transfer | None | Never use for online purchases from private sellers or unverified sites |
Never leave the platform to pay: that's the golden rule. If a seller asks you to complete payment on another site or with a different method, it's almost certainly a scam. Even with the most incredible deals, like those we publish at Glitchoo, payment only happens through Amazon.
How to verify a deal before buying
Never trust the struck-through price alone. Scammers use it to inflate the original value and make the discount appear larger than it is. Here's how to use the Glitchoo method:
- Check the 90-day price history: compare the current price with the average over the last three months. If the price is historically low, it's more likely to be a genuine bargain.
- Look at the Trust Score: Glitchoo calculates a score (1 to 10) based on seller reliability, price stability, and promo validity.
- Read the deal description: we always state whether it's a price error (glitch) or a real discount. We also flag coupons separately, because a -40% discount might hide a -50% coupon, and the difference matters.
- Check the category and reviews: sometimes a low price is due to an obsolete model or a defective product. Read the latest reviews and check the release date.
Why does this work? We explain it in detail on how Glitchoo works.
Real examples from today: verified deals (you can check them with the same method)
To make things practical, look at the featured deals below. They were verified with price history at the time of publication. For instance:
- Endgame Rubies Black Panther Mask (−92%, IT): is it a price error? The history shows the average price is much higher, but the product is selling out. The urgency is real, but our Trust Score tells you if it's worth it.
- Bluetooth 5.4 Headphones (−85%, IT): here the discount is steep, but could the struck-through price be inflated? No, because the 90-day history confirms the list price is indeed higher.
- Bluetooth Lautsprecher (−80%, DE): same category, different market. The method is identical: check history and Trust Score.
These are examples of how an experienced deal hunter operates: they don't stop at -80%, they verify. And if the deal is genuine, they can buy safely because payment stays on Amazon.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if an email from "Amazon" is genuine?
Check the sender: official Amazon addresses always end with @amazon.co.uk, @amazon.de, etc. Don't open attachments or click on links asking you to "update your payment method" – Amazon never does this via email.
Can I use a prepaid card for purchases on Amazon?
Yes, but it offers no fraud protection. If possible, use a credit card or PayPal which give you chargeback or buyer protection.
What should I do if I've already clicked on a fake link?
Don't enter any data. Close the page, change your account passwords (Amazon, email), and check your statements. If you've entered payment details, contact your bank immediately and report the fraud to Action Fraud.
Are Glitchoo deals always safe?
We verify each deal with price history and assign a Trust Score. However, prices change and availability varies. Our advice is to always read the product page on Amazon before buying. To learn more about us, visit about us.
Conclusion
Safe online shopping doesn't mean giving up bargains but learning to tell real deals from traps. With price history, Trust Score, and the rule of never paying outside the platform, you have the tools to move smartly. The featured deals below were verified today: have a look, but always use your judgment. And if in doubt, come back to this guide.
Don't wait: sometimes price errors last hours, not days. But haste must never turn into naivety. Ready to become a shrewder buyer?
Glitchoo is an Amazon UK affiliate: if you buy through our links we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.