For many people, the Internet has made holiday shopping easy. With a click of the mouse, packages magically roll into delivery trucks bound for holiday delivery.
Unfortunately, it can be just as easy for thieves to snatch away your money on-line. There are guidelines to follow when shopping on-line.
The No. 1 tip: Know your merchant. Such consumer watchdogs as the Better Business Bureau and the National Consumers League urge Internet shoppers to do business with companies they know and trust. This doesn’t mean to only buy from large companies with established names (small companies can be trustworthy too), but consumers should make sure the company has a real address and telephone number.
The Better Business Bureau has a special site (www.bbbonline.org) with a list of companies that have earned its accreditation.
Here are some tips compiled from consumer-watchdog groups:
– Never give your bank-account numbers, credit-card numbers or other personal information to anyone you haven’t checked out. The merchant’s Web site should state that it is providing a secure server or secure socket layer, which assures privacy for credit-card transactions. Sending credit-card numbers by e-mail is not secure.
– Social Security numbers and mother’s maiden name can give a thief access to your bank accounts. Never give your passwords to anyone. Look for a privacy policy posted on-line to explain why a site is asking for sensitive information.
– Many thieves put up sites that mimic the look and feel of nationally known companies. But they can’t fake the Web address, which is registered at Internic. If in doubt, contact www.internic.net.
– Avoid unsolicited e-mail or “spam” guaranteeing deals too good to be true.
– Always monitor kids’ purchases on-line.
– Take your time. Any pressure to buy immediately is the sign of a scam.
– Understand the shipping charges and find out what the company’s return policy is before you press the submit button. Always print out a copy of the purchase order with confirmation number.
