Burnsville, Minnesota– November 24, 2015 –After
Black Friday and Small Business Saturday, many shoppers go online to
check out Cyber Monday specials. According to the National Retail
Federation, shoppers expect to do almost half of their holiday shopping
online this year. Cyber Monday, the Monday after Black Friday, has
grown popular among consumers in recent years, as they look to take
advantage of post-holiday sales some retailers offer. Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota ®
(BBB) offers their top ten tips for people looking to shop online, be
it on Cyber Monday – November 30 – or throughout the busy 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 BBB’s 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 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 “great deals” that might wind up costing you dearly
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.
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; 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; 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.
