BBB Tips for Safe Shopping on Cyber Monday

Today is Cyber Monday, one of the most popular shopping days of the year, but for many people, however, holiday shopping comes with a great deal of stress; they want to find the best deals for gifts and avoid overspending. Shopping online brings its own stresses and risks, especially with the well publicized retail data breaches that have occurred in the past year. To help you keep a cool head, and a safe wallet, BBB offers these online shopping tips for Cyber Monday:

• Protect your personal information. Take time to read the 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 should be taken as a red flag that personal information may be sold to others without permission.
• Shop safely online. Online deals dominate on Cyber Monday. Whether you’re shopping on this day or any other day, be sure your computer has the most recent updates for spam filters, anti-virus and anti-spyware software. Only shop on trusted websites; look for the BBB seal as well as the Ad Choices logo for sites that give you more control over whether advertisers can use your information for targeted advertising.
• Confirm that 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, right-click anywhere on the page and select “Properties.” This should let you see the actual URL (website address) and the dialog box will reveal whether or not the site is encrypted.
• Pay with a credit card. Using a credit card is suggested because the shopper can dispute the charges if he/she doesn’t receive the item. Shoppers also have dispute rights if there are unauthorized charges on their credit card, and some card issuers have “zero liability” policies under which the cardholder pays nothing if someone steals the credit card number and uses it. Check terms and conditions with your cardholder.
• Keep documentation of your order. After completing the online order process, there may be a final confirmation page or the shopper might receive confirmation by e-mail. BBB recommends saving a copy of the web page and any e-mails for future reference and as a record of the purchase.
• Know your rights. Whether shopping retail or online, know your rights.According to the FTC, orders made by mail, phone, fax, or online should be shipped by the date promised or, if no delivery time was stated, within 30 days. If the goods cannot be shipped on time, the shopper must be notified of the right to cancel and receive a refund. Consumers also have the right to reject merchandise if it’s defective or misrepresented; otherwise, it’s the company’s policies that determine if the shopper can cancel the purchase and receive a refund or credit. Be sure you understand return policies before you buy.