5 Ways to avoid scams during Cyber Monday shopping spree
Cyber Monday is one of the biggest shopping days of the year for online sales, but fraudsters and scammers often take advantage of customers by setting up fake websites and offering deals that are too good to be true.
The Better Business Bureau reminds consumers to protect themselves from fraud, both on Cyber Monday and in the lead-up to the holidays.
Be a savvy shopper
When shopping online be sure to take your time and read the fine print before submitting your order. Look for the return policy during the holidays, as some stores have different return policies depending on the item you purchase and when trying to return an item you purchased online. Although many online orders can be returned for a full refund, others have restocking fees.
Know the advertiser
Some of the best deals are only available online, but be careful. It's easy for a fake site to mimic a famous retailer's website, so make sure you're shopping at a legitimate site. And make sure websites are secure. Only share personal information and your credit card number with websites that are https — the extra "s" stands for secure — and that have a security lock icon in the task bar.
Trust but verify
When shopping online, use retail websites that you trust. Use common sense and avoid deals that seem too good to be true. And use anti-virus software to ensure your computer and personal information are safe.
Shop with a credit card
A credit card provides additional protections over a debit card in case of fraudulent transactions. If your card number is compromised, it's easier to dispute any charges that you didn't approve. Prepaid cards or gift cards don't have the same protections as a credit card, but you'll never lose more than the value of the card itself.
Be careful of phishing scams
A popular one at this time of year is an e-mail claiming to be from a package-delivery company with links to tracking information (clicking on unfamiliar links can place you at risk for malware and/or identity theft).
