Complain about a product or service

'Tis the Season to be Careful

BBB Outlines Steps for Safe Cyber Shopping

November 14, 2006

Holiday Shopping • Customer Satisfaction With E-Retail Rebounds • Frustrated Shoppers Can't Find Deep Discounts • Avoiding The Pitfalls Of Returns Before Buying A Gift • Savvy Young Shoppers Study Holiday Gift Prices • Six Holiday Shopping 'Gotchas' To Avoid • Avoid Counterfeit Products When Holiday Shopping • Vendors Gouge Parents Over Scarce Zhu Zhu Pets • Walmart Gets a Black Eye on Black Friday • Does It Really Pay To Go Shopping On Black Friday? • Consumers Warned About 'The Twelve Scams of Christmas' --- • More ...

While "Black Friday," the day after Thanksgiving, makes the traditional start of the holiday shopping season, the buying season has already begun online.

This year the Better Business Bureau is warning consumers that the threat of fraud always lurks in these cyber transaction, and extra care is required.

Jupiter Research projects that online holiday retail sales will hit $32 billion in 2006. If you will be among the 114 million Web users expected to shop online this month and next, there are a few simple tips that can make for successful shopping expeditions.

"Savvy online shoppers who look for merchants and Web sites they can trust, who take steps to protect their privacy and the security of their financial transactions, and who heed their instincts will reap the many benefits of online shopping," said Steve Cole, president and CEO of the Council of Better Business Bureaus.

To help consumers enjoy a safe online shopping experience, the group offers a list of questions to keep handy when looking for electronics, toys, apparel and other popular categories of gifts this holiday season.

1. Is your computer protected? Make sure your computer is equipped with updated spam filters, anti-virus and anti-spyware software, and a secure firewall. Check for and install any new security updates for the programs on your computer and its operating system.

2. Are you in the right frame of mind? You can shop with speed and ease on the Internet, but you still need to shop smart. If you're tired or distracted, you may want to postpone your online shopping expedition until you can be fully cyber-"aware."

3. Do you trust the merchant? To check on the seller's reputation, look for feedback comments from other customers or conduct Web searches. Check with the Better Business Bureau (www.bbb.org) for a report about the retailer's marketplace record. Look for a "trustmark" from BBBOnLine or another reputable organization and "click" on that seal to confirm that it's valid. You can search for BBBOnLine merchants by gift category or other key words at www.bbbonline.org.

4. Do you have all the details? Don't do business with any retailer that does not provide its physical address and a contact telephone number for customers. You should know how much the product or service costs; if there are shipping and handling charges; the delivery time-frame; if a warranty or guarantee is offered; the seller's privacy policy and the retailer's cancellation and return policy. Print out a copy of your confirmation page in case you need it later.

5. Will your online purchase be secure? Look in the address box for the "s" in https:// and in the lower-right corner for the "lock" symbol before paying. Don't be fooled by spoofed sites that feature convincing "security" measures. If you have doubts about a site, right-click anywhere on the page and select "Properties." This will let you see the real URL (Web site address) and the dialog box will reveal if the site is "not encrypted."

6. Will your personal information be protected? Read the site's privacy policy to understand what personal information is being requested and how it will be used. If there isn't one posted, consider that a warning that your personal information may be sold to others without your permission.

7. Are your instincts telling you to beware? Listen to your gut. If you're dubious about a merchant; if the Web site appears to be suspicious; if the offer seems "too good to be true," trust your instincts. Check with the BBB and with online consumer complaint sites.

8. Is that e-mail legitimate? If someone e-mails you unexpectedly to ask for personal information, be very suspicious. Legitimate businesses do not send e-mails claiming problems with an order or an account to lure the "buyer" into revealing financial information. Pick up the phone and call the contact number on the Web site where you made the purchase to ask if there was a problem with your transaction.

Before using any online merchant for the first time, do an online search, using the name of the company, to see if other consumers have any complaints.

Report Your Experience
If you've had a bad experience -- or a good one -- with a consumer product or service, we'd like to hear about it. All complaints are reviewed by class action attorneys and are considered for publication on our site. Knowledge is power! Help spread the word. File your consumer report now.

Follow us on Twitter.

Back to the top |