Cyber Monday — the Monday following Thanksgiving — is now the most popular day to shop for the holidays, surpassing Black Thursday. Shopping online means avoiding the crowds, but it also opens the buyer up to attacks from scammers and hackers.
In order to fight online grinches, the Better Business Bureau recommends these tips for staying safe when holiday shopping online.
Protect your computer. Always have the most recent updates installed for spam filters, anti-virus and anti-spyware software and a secure firewall.
Shop on trustworthy websites. Start with BBB to check on the seller’s reputation and record for customer satisfaction. Always look for the BBB seal and other recognized trustmarks on retailer websites and click on them to confirm authenticity.
Protect your personal information. Read the website’s privacy policy and understand what personal information is being requested and how it will be used. If there isn’t one posted, consider it a red flag that personal information may be sold to others without permission.
Beware of deals that sound too good to be true. Don’t be afraid to turn down an online deal or unsolicited e-mail offer that sounds too good to be true.
Beware of phishing. Be wary of e-mails claiming problems with your order or online account to lure you into revealing financial information. If you receive such an e-mail, call the contact number on the website (not in the e-mail) where the purchase was made to confirm a problem exists.
Confirm your online purchase is secure. Always look in the address box for the “s” in https:// and in the lower-right corner for the “lock” symbol before paying. The BBB recommends right-clicking anywhere on the page and selecting “Properties.” This lets you see the real URL (website address) and the dialog box will reveal if the site is not encrypted.
Pay with a credit card. Under federal law, you can dispute credit-card charges if don’t receive the item. Never wire money and only shop locally on sites like Craigslist.
Keep documentation of your order. Save and/or print the online receipt or purchase confirmation along with any e-mails for future reference and as a record of the purchase.
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.
Start With Trust. For more advice on staying safe online this holiday season, visit wynco.bbb.org/consumer-tips-holiday/ or call 970-484-1348 or 800-564-0371. Don’t go a day without your BBB. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Flickr.
About the BBB
The Better Business Bureau, founded in 1912, is a champion for ethics and trust in the marketplace. Only businesses that meet the high BBB standards are invited to become BBB Accredited Businesses. Today, 123 BBBs across the United States and Canada rate more than 4 million local and national businesses and charities with scores ranging from A+ to F. Only a BBB Accredited Business may elect to participate in BBBOnLine, one of the most trusted and recognized Internet seal programs in the world.
The BBB serving northern Colorado and Wyoming topped 1.1 million instances of service to consumers and businesses in the last 12 months. These services include reliability reports on local companies and charities, access to companies that can be trusted by industry, help with dispute resolution, and trustworthy information on consumer and business topics.
Luanne Kadlub, BBB media relations manager, 970-488-2044 lkadlub@wynco.bbb.org