Burnsville, Minnesota– November 24, 2014 – After Black Friday
and Small Business Saturday, savvy shoppers go online to take advantage of
Cyber Monday specials. Cyber Monday, which takes place the Monday after Black
Friday, has grown increasingly popular among consumers in recent years, as they
look for clearance sales some retailers offer online. Better Business Bureau of
Minnesota and North Dakota (BBB) offers their top ten tips for people doing
their shopping online, be it on December 1 – Cyber Monday – or throughout the
holiday season:
1.
Protect your computer – Your computer should always have the
most recent updates installed for spam filters, anti-virus and anti-spyware
software and a secure firewall.
2. Stick
to trustworthy websites – Research the seller’s reputation and track
record for customer satisfaction at bbb.org.
Look for the BBB seal and other widely-recognized “trust marks” on retailer
websites. Always remember to click on the seals to confirm that they are valid
and check out customer reviews online, including those offered by Better
Business Bureau.
3. Protect
your personal information – Take the time to read the privacy policy
of websites you visit and understand what personal information is being
collected and how it will be used. If you don’t see a privacy policy posted, be
aware your information may be sold to others without your permission.
4. Beware
of deals that sound too good to be true – Offers found on
less-traveled websites and in unsolicited emails sometimes advertise
suspiciously low prices. When visiting a website, look for misspellings and
grammatical errors, as these are signs the site might be fraudulent. Trust your
instincts and be leery of unsolicited emails, as they may contain viruses or malware.
Don’t be afraid to pass up “deals” that might wind up costing you money instead
of saving you money.
5. Beware
of phishing – Legitimate businesses do not send emails claiming
problems with an order or a past transaction to lure the “buyer” into revealing
financial information. If a consumer receives such an email, BBB recommends
picking up the phone and calling the retailer you dealt with or your credit
card provider to get to the bottom of the matter. Stay calm, don’t panic and
always be protective of your personal and financial information.
6. Confirm
your online purchase is secure – Shoppers should always look in the
address box for the “s” in https:// and
in the lower-right corner for the “lock” symbol before paying.
7. Pay
with a credit card – It’s often best to use a credit card, because
under federal law, the shopper can dispute the charge if he or she doesn’t
receive the item. Shoppers also have dispute rights if there are unauthorized
charges on their credit card or merchandise they receive is damaged or
defective.
8. Keep
documentation of your order - After completing the online order
process, there should be a final confirmation page or the shopper might receive
confirmation by email. Save a copy of that as well as any emails for future
reference and as a record of your purchase.
9. Check your credit card statements often – Don’t wait for paper statements; the BBB recommends consumers check their credit card statements for suspicious activity by checking statements online regularly or by calling their credit card companies if fraud is suspected.
9. Check your credit card statements often – Don’t wait for paper statements; the BBB recommends consumers check their credit card statements for suspicious activity by checking statements online regularly or by calling their credit card companies if fraud is suspected.
10. Know
your rights – Federal law requires that orders made by mail, phone or
online be shipped by the date promised or, if no delivery time was stated,
within 30 days. If the goods aren’t shipped on time, the shopper can cancel and
demand a refund. There is no general three-day cancellation right, but
consumers do have the right to reject merchandise if it’s defective or was
misrepresented. Otherwise, it’s the company’s policies that determine if the
shopper can cancel the purchase and receive a refund or credit.
