Shop safely on Cyber Monday, and anytime online
[MGN]
It’s called Cyber Monday, and it has become one of the top shopping days of the year. But the Wisconsin Better Business Bureau warns online shopping, even on Cyber Monday, has its risks. The BBB has tips to help consumers shop online this holiday season. They say consumers need to be on the lookout for misleading advertisements, lookalike websites, and untrustworthy sellers.
Beware of false advertising and phony websites: If a company is selling the hottest item of the year at a price that seems too good to be true, it probably is. Watch out for false advertising and keep a close eye on the web address in your browser. Scammers love to create lookalike websites that, at first glance, appear to belong to a trusted retailer. Make sure websites use the correct spelling of a business name and have legitimate contact information and customer service numbers.
Shop with trustworthy sellers on secure sites only: Be wary of businesses you aren’t familiar with. Check their BBB Business Profile on BBB.org, look at the rating, and read customer reviews. In addition, be sure any web page you purchase from is secure. Secure web addresses begin with HTTPS:// and not just HTTP://. Never put personal or credit card information in forms on non-secure web pages.
Keep your antivirus software up to date: Make sure you have antivirus software installed on your computer or mobile device, and that it is up to date.
Use your credit card: It’s always best to make online purchases with your credit card. If any shady charges turn up later, you will be able to contest them through your credit card company. Debit cards don’t offer this same protection. Never make purchases with online sellers by giving them prepaid debit cards or wiring them money.
Watch out for phishing scams: Busy schedules and increased purchases make it easier to miss – and fall victim to – a phishing scam. Look out for unsolicited emails, texts, calls, or letters. These messages may claim you have a free gift waiting for you or that there is a problem with a delivery – all you need to do is click on a link or give up your personal information. Avoid phishing scams by ignoring suspicious correspondence and calls from unfamiliar phone numbers.