Tips to Avoid Holiday Online Shopping Scams
Posted on October 23, 2008
It\'s that time of year again, and even though Halloween has barely shuffled its costumed, candy-eating visage out the proverbial door, plenty of people are already proceeding full-speed ahead with holiday shopping. As anyone who has ever braved the mall crowds between November and January knows, it is much more comfortable and convenient to shop from the comfort of your own home, via the wonderful internet. But is it safer?
Online shopping has increased in leaps and bounds in recent years, and the National Retail Foundation expects almost half of this year\'s holiday purchases to be made via the internet. But careless consumers may get more than they bargain for if they log on without taking a few precautions. Phishing scams are especially prevalent around the holidays, as cyber criminals strive to take advantage of consumers looking for sale prices and savings opportunities, and the sheer number of vendor options online increase the chances of buying from a fake or unscrupulous retailer, and either losing money or getting poor-quality merchandise.
OnguardOnline, an internet safety awareness campaign run by The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the technology industry, has compiled a set of online shopping guidelines to protect consumers and minimize the risks associated with internet retail:
* Be familiar with the retailer and make sure the site is legitimate. Don\'t enter financial or personal information into any popup windows that happen to appear while browsing - legitimate companies don\'t ask for this information via email or pop-ups.
* Read all the fine print in a product description to make sure you\'re getting what you want and that the item is in the condition you\'re looking for.
* Compare prices on different sites and remember to factor in shipping costs when budgeting your spending money.
* Pay by credit or charge card. Do not send cash or a check with your bank account number. OnguardOnline states that \"if you pay by credit or charge card online, your transaction will be protected by the Fair Credit Billing Act, which allows you to dispute charges under certain circumstances and temporarily withhold payment while the creditor is investigating. In the event your credit or charge card is used without your knowledge and permission, you generally are liable for no more than $50 in charges per card. Many companies do not hold consumers responsible for any unauthorized charges made online, and some card issuers may provide additional warranty, return, and/or purchase protection benefits.\" Debit card transactions may not fall under protection by this law, so check with your bank to determine their policies on debit fraud.
* Study the sites transaction policies, including refund information, delivery and shipping options, restocking fees, and return policies. Make sure the company\'s policies match your needs before placing an order. Also, study a company\'s privacy policy to find out how the company intends to use your information and whether or not it plans to distribute the information to other companies or individuals.
* Print copies of your transaction receipts, email correspondence, and the product description and price, and save them.
* Check your credit card statements for a few months after the holidays for any unauthorized charges.
* Do not submit financial information to an unsecured website. The \"lock\" icon in the URL window is a good indicator that the site is secure, but you should be aware that it is possible to fake a security indicator and the site may not be secure after all.
* Install and run updated antivirus software and a secure firewall to protect your computer from viruses, spam, and hackers.
Most corporate stores have an option to shop online. For instance, Barnes & Noble, Macy\'s, Toys R Us, Best Buy, and even Target all allow consumers to shop and buy online. Likewise, all-purpose sites such as Amazon.com are generally safe and secure, and have their holiday shipping process down to a science, leaving you little to worry about. Some places even gift-wrap your purchases.
Holiday shopping should be a fun part of the season, not another reason to stress. Taking precautions and following safety guidelines can help you relax and get ready to focus on your family and the holiday itself, not the people trying to take advantage of it. If, despite your best efforts, you think you\'ve been duped, contact the FTC toll-free at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357) or file a complaint online at www.ftc.gov.
How to Avoid Online Scams
There are tons of great opportunities available to you online and unfortunately along with those great opportunities, there are tons of online scams. ...
Shocking American Student Loan Scams - How To Spot Them
Looking for an American student loan? You could be caught out if you're not well informed about what scams are around and know how to avoid them.I'm J...
Show Me the Money - How Not to Fall For Lines From Internet Scams
Internet is one of the most convenient inventions ever made. A click can take you places where you discover a treasure of files downloadable anytime. ...
Birthdays on Holidays - How to Plan a Birthday Party When it Falls on a Holiday
Many think that celebrating a birthday with a major holiday would make it extra special. It does, however, the holiday can cloud the birthday and make...
Home Mortgage Loans for People with Bad Credit - Pros and Cons
Home mortgage loans for people with bad credit allow you to buy your own home, even with a bankruptcy or foreclosure in your record. With subprime len...
How To Recognize Online Scams
The Internet is the place where you can go to find anything that you want or need. Its a big place thats filled with people from all over the world, ...
Nigeria Fraud - The Basics
An overview on Nigeria and its Scam OperationsWith approximately 2 billion people now accessing the Internet, it's no wonder that online scams and fra...
Student Loans With Bad Credit - Know the Scams?
I want to share the knowledge so you don't get done in too. As it can easily happen, if you don't spot the warning signs.These types of scams targete...
Threat of Viruses Not "Solved’ Just Yet
A recent article in Information Week quotes the chairman and CEO of prominent antivirus company Symantec as saying that the problem of worms and virus...
Don’t Get Scammed More Than Once
How many times have you been scammed? I know that might seem like a strange question but there is a reason for it. I asked how many times you got sc...
How To Green Your Holiday Parties - 5 Quick & Easy Tips
Well yet another holiday season has arrived and you're rushing to get everything ready and in place for your annual holiday party but before you finis...
Scams Of Buying Flowers Online And How To Avoid Them
"It is very easy to extract $1 from million people than extracting million dollars from a person."This old saying is extensively used by scammers of t...
No Credit Student Loans - Tips To Torpedo Scams
Searching for no credit student loans? You need to know that the student loan market is full of scams, You could be Next. The Student Loan business ...
Shopping for a Car Loan - Tips to Get the Best Deal
Before you decide to shop for anything, ask yourself if you really require the item. If you have decided to purchase a car, choose if it is going to b...
Dialer Scams And Spyware
Apparently there are quite a number of different ways that people get ripped off as a result of unknowingly hosting spyware in their computers. One of...
» Filed Under
Network Security Information