Christmas is just around the corner, so it’s likely you’ll be shopping online. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) published some tips for finding the best deals while shopping as safely as possible. Consider adding these important steps to your “to-do” list. It’s also the perfect time to share them with family since identity theft and scams can affect all generations.
Learn about sellers and products. To check on unfamiliar products and companies, search online for the product or company name, plus the words “complaint” or “scam.” See what other people are saying about their experience.
Be cautious about online reviews. Expert reviews from trusted websites are a good place to get information about what to buy and who to hire. Focus on sites you trust and that offer impartial reviews from real experts. Check several sources and consider where a review is posted, who wrote the review, and the reviewer’s history. Don’t rely on star ratings alone because some reviews and ratings are fake or misleading.
To comparison shop for a product, make notes of the item’s manufacturer or model number, plus details like size, color, or shipping fees. Use the information to check comparison shopping sites that list retail stores and online sellers that have the item. Not all comparison-shopping sites are the same. Some may be set up by a manufacturer to promote its own products. Some may be run by companies that only list or rank products if sellers pay them. Focus on comparison shopping sites that are well known as trustworthy.
Read the seller’s shipping and delivery policies. An FTC rule requires sellers to ship items as they promised in their ads. If a seller doesn’t promise a time, it has to ship your order within 30 days after it gets your name, address, and payment, or permission to charge your account. Many sites offer tracking options, so you can see exactly where your purchase is and estimate when you’ll get it. If you pay by credit card but don’t get the item, you can dispute the charge.
Check on the seller’s refund policies. The site should say whether you can return the item for a full refund. If you can return it, find out who pays the shipping costs for returns? How many days do you have to return the item? Will you have to pay restocking fees? If you buy things on sale, double-check the return policies. Sellers often have different refund and return policies for sale items, especially clearance merchandise.
Paying by credit card best protects you and your money in case of a scam, or if something else goes wrong. Make sure the websites where you enter payment information uses encryption to protect your information during your transaction. Look for https at the beginning of the URL. The ‘s’ after http means the site is encrypted — but it doesn’t mean it’s a legitimate site. Scammers know how to encrypt sites, too. NEVER buy anything from online sellers that accept payment only with gift cards, by wire transfers through companies like Western Union or MoneyGram, or with cryptocurrency. Payments you make that way are nearly impossible to trace and reverse. Scammers often tell people to use those payment methods so they can get money quickly.
When you buy something online, be sure to keep information about the company name and website; what you ordered, the date you ordered it, and what you paid; the seller’s return policy; the company’s promise to ship, and the date it made the promise; all email, text, and other communication you have with the company; and your credit card or bank account statements that show how you paid.
Check the website’s privacy policy. It should let you know what personal information the site is collecting, why it’s being collected, and how it’ll be used. If you can't find a privacy policy, you can’t understand it, or don’t like how the site will use your information, consider going to a different site.
(Source: https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/online-shopping)
Check back monthly for new tips and topics and of course, chances to win. Here are this month’s contest questions and your chance to win a $300 Amazon gift card.
Contest Rules: No purchase necessary. Void were prohibited. One entry per person. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Employees and family members of PenTeleData and their affiliates are ineligible. This contest is open to legal residents in PenTeleData territories only. One winner will be selected at random and will be announced after the selection on or about December 31, 2024. Odds of winning will depend on number of entries. Winners must grant permission for PenTeleData to use his/her name, statements and image in future promotions, without compensation. All PenTeleData decisions and prize awards are final. Prizes may not be substituted and are not refundable, transferable, or redeemable for cash.