The Monday following Thanksgiving, or Cyber Monday, is thought of as the beginning of the online holiday shopping season.
Last year, consumers spent $846 million online during Cyber Monday according to a report by the Online Publishers Association.
The Better Business Bureau offers the following tips for safe holiday shopping online:
1. Protect your computer – Make sure to install the most recent updates for spam filters, anti-virus and anti-spyware software, and a secure firewall.
2. Use trustworthy Web sites – Start with BBB to check the seller’s reputation and record for customer satisfaction. Always look for the BBBOnLine seal and click to confirm that it’s valid.
3. Protect your personal information – BBB recommends taking the time to read the Web site’s privacy policy and understand what personal information is being requested and how it will be used. If there isn’t one posted, it may be a red flag that personal information could be sold to others without permission.
4. Trust your gut – Offers on Web sites and in unsolicited e-mails can often sound too good to be true. Consumers should always go with their instincts and not be afraid to pass up a “deal” that might cost them more in the end.
5. Beware of phishing – Legitimate businesses do not send e-mails claiming problems with an order or an account to lure a buyer into revealing financial information.
If a consumer receives such an e-mail, BBB recommends calling the contact number on the Web site where the purchase was made.
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. If there are any doubts about a site, BBB recommends right-clicking anywhere on the page and selecting “Properties.”
7. Pay with a credit card – Under federal law, a consumer can dispute a charge if he or she doesn’t receive the item. Consumers also have dispute rights if there are unauthorized charges on their credit card and many card issuers have “zero liability” policies under which the card holder pays nothing if someone steals the credit card number and uses it.
8. Keep documentation of your order - After completing the online order process, there may be a final confirmation page or the shopper may receive confirmation by e-mail.
9. Check your credit card statements often – Don’t wait for paper statements.
10. Know your rights – Federal law requires that orders made by mail, phone or online be shipped by the date promised. If no delivery time was stated, the order must be received within 30 days. If the goods aren’t shipped on time, you can cancel and demand a refund. There is no general three-day cancellation right, but you do have the right to reject merchandise if it is defective or was misrepresented.
