The Federal Trade Commission, the nation’s consumer protection agency, has tips to help consumers make smart online shopping decisions for the holidays:
Know who you’re dealing with:
- Confirm the online seller’s physical address and phone number before you buy.
Know what you’re buying:
- Read the seller’s description of the product and the fine print.
- Understand the terms and conditions regarding refunds, including who pays the shipping costs, and whether there is a restocking fee.
- Print and save records of your online transactions, including all emails to and from the seller.
- Buy gift cards from known and trusted sources, and avoid online auction sites for gift cards.
Be stingy with your personal information:
- Don’t give out your credit card or other financial information in exchange for a tech toy, a free gift card, a seasonal job, or a holiday vacation rental.
- Don’t email your financial information or click on a link in an email. Legitimate companies don’t ask for your financial information via email or pop-up message.
Check the privacy policy:
- If you can’t find it or it doesn’t make sense, consider taking your business elsewhere, and letting the site know what you think.
Shop around:
- Use the manufacturer and model number of the item to compare prices among merchants. Consider whether shipping is included. If the item is offered for pick-up at a store, consider the cost of parking or public transportation.
Use caution when buying on public WiFi:
- If a hot spot has doesn’t have effective security measures in place, it’s risky to send sensitive information like your credit card number over that network.
Pay by credit or charge card:
- They offer the best consumer protections. If you wire money and there’s a problem, you probably won’t get it back. Buying online using cash equivalents – debit card, personal check, cashier’s check, or money order – can be risky. Use them only if you know the party you’re doing business with.
Free screen savers, e-cards, or other seasonal downloads can carry dangerous viruses:
- Keep your anti-virus and anti-spyware software and your firewall current.
Monitor your financial accounts:
- Read your statements regularly, making sure they reflect the charges you authorized.