With the technology that we have more people are using it to make their lives convenient. The saying that everything can now be done online has clearly been evident especially in our daily lives. People who are in the marijuana industry, have found online shopping to be very useful. For patients-cultivators who want to plant their own medical marijuana, looking for the right medical marijuana seed bank online has been effortless.
However, as we all know that when one good thing stands out, some people may be thinking of ways to take advantage of it for their own personal gains. Though proven to be convenient and hassle-free, online shopping sites might be flocked by scammers waiting for their next victim. And the marijuana industry can’t escape this as they are a billion-dollar industry. This article will help you in finding out that you are getting scammed for buying cannabis seeds online and how to possibly avoid it.
Signs That you are Getting Scammed
There are a lot of strategies that scammers use to make sure their victims will not take the slightest hint. Marijuana company promotions using decals, strictly money first transactions, no valid address and a whole lot more. Here are some of the things you need to watch out for:
- Online Platform with no reviews or doesn’t allow reviews to be posted
With the help of technology, more companies are making the effort to make their brand presence known to the online world. This helps customers from different corners of the world. A good thing to watch out for legit marijuana seed banks online is that they maintain a healthy relationship with their online community by allowing their members to post reviews so that potential customers will know what they are going into.
Legit marijuana seed banks know that this is a great help especially to those who have h
undreds of inquiries from different countries. If the marijuana seed bank that you’re checking does not allow its customers to see reviews from previous transactions, it might mean that there was no legitimate transaction that happened.
You can ask for recommendations. Ask the people around you especially those who are also marijuana enthusiasts if they are familiar with a certain marijuana seed bank so you will have a grasp whether that company is an authorized one or no.
- Incorrect information about the seeds
Most online scammers will broadcast that they are selling high-quality seeds for a hefty amount and once the customer receives the package, that’s the only time they find out they got the cheapest seeds available on the market.
The counteraction for this is for the customer to do extensive research about the seeds he/she wants to purchase. This will be plain and simple as all the information that you will need is already on the internet. All you have to do is read and if you think, you don’t have every information needed, read some more.
- Does not have the option for Stealth Shipping
Marijuana seed banks that have proven stability in the market knows the ins and outs of stealth shipping. They have become experts about how to use unmarked packaging, sending items that will go along with the seeds so that the item will not look suspicious. They also know how to maintain the freshness and viability of the seeds regardless of the shipping schedule.
For online scammers, they will tell you outright that they can ship the item just like any regular package. This is already considered a red flag especially if you are living in an area that marijuana cultivation has not been authorized.
The scammers will also have a hard time explaining how they do stealth shipping, just in case they tell you that it’s available. Ask for contingency plans, courier name, how exactly is item packed, a good company will be able to answer these, easy as pie.
- Tracking information
Tracking information provided by a legit marijuana seed bank will always be helpful especially if your package will be shipped out from the other side of the world. This will allow you to observe how fast the item will get to you. These marijuana seed banks are also partnered with courier service with a working website that will allow you to track the package any time of the day.
Beware of people telling you that your package will arrive in how many days without giving you a chance to track it. You will end up waiting for that day and yet no package delivery.
- Only one payment option (money-first)
Scammers will only give you the option to send out money for the item. This is as obvious as it sounds. Authorized marijuana seed banks are already using different payment options to receive your payment. Credit/debit cards, wire transfers, cheques and some might even consider cryptocurrency as a method for paying.
If the seed bank says that they only do money first policy and you don’t see anything that will prove that the company is legit, you might want to hold that transaction first.
- Cryptocurrency mode of payment
Although legit marijuana seed banks also use cryptocurrency as a mode of payment, be careful because sometimes using this can expose your personal information. Online scammers might take hold of your information without knowing it and that might be the master plan of scammers and not really focused on your money yet. Always go with the payment method that is secure and you are comfortable with.
- Medical marijuana seed bank frauds
This is a sad part for people who are medically dependent on marijuana. There are people out there that disguise as medical dispensaries that sell marijuana with approved medical benefits. Patients who are having a hard time looking for a specific strain from a medical marijuana seed bank might fall into this trap.
Patients who are desperate and those of old age are the usual victims. They can easily purchase and send payment without verifying the company information first. It’s always best to process transactions with medical dispensaries you trust or seed banks that have been known to produce medical marijuana.
- Lapses on the company website
Scrutinize the seed bank’s website if you can. A good company will have thorough information running on the website, it will not look and feel like it was copied from another website.
Also, look out for their rules and policies about payments, delivery options and even for promotions that they offer. They will usually have all the information the customer needs and not leave the customers with question marks on their heads.
- No valid contact information
Marijuana seed banks with legit websites will always have a piece of good and working contact information. They do this to prove to customers that they are serious with their customer service and assisting the customers in every way they.
Scammers may leave contact information such as email address and a telephone number but once contacted either no response or worse, it’s directly connected to another company. But most of them will just mix numbers and voila, they have a bogus number.
The best way to avoid this is to personally call the number stated and ask questions about the marijuana strain you are looking into buying. Check whether the location of the seed bank has the same area code. You can also send an email and see if you will get a failure notice.
- No actual physical location
A marijuana seed bank that has a physical location may be a legit one, so if you have time to go there, might as well do your first transaction at the physical store. You also have the chance to verify all their online contact information once there. Once you have confirmed all their information a second transaction is done online will be much safer.
Physical stores are actually a big help especially for those near the area, but if you have no other option but to make an online purchase, check on all the previous steps to avoid being scammed.
If you are ordering from another country and not sure whether the seed bank will process your order, check on online maps and see if that location actually has the store in it. And marijuana seed banks from other countries will always have a website for their international customers so make sure to check that.
These are the common signs to look out for when buying your cannabis seeds online. Be informed that as we advance into a different era, scammers are also getting themselves equipped with the technology to continue with their bogus acts.
The marijuana industry might be a billion-dollar industry but it does not necessarily mean that it is impenetrable by people who want to take advantage of other people. Scammers will remain scammers if you allow them to be. Make sure to read and research before you do your transactions online.