Fighting Fraud
By Better Business Bureau Serving Greater Cleveland
Don’t let scammers steal your independence! Since many gift-givers utilize online retailers as their means to purchase a variety of goods, Better Business Bureau® (BBB®) reminds shoppers to shop safely and shop smart.
The Fourth of July can be a hallmark start of the “Black Friday” summer deals. Shop smart and watch out for online scams by following these tips:
- Read the reviews. Sort by date and by relevance, and look at both the positive and negative feedback. By reading multiple reviews, you can see the common themes and recurring issues.
- Review the return policies. Look over the policies BEFORE checking out. This ensures you can send the product back, the terms, the time frame, and more.
- Shop locally. What’s better than finding the perfect gift? Supporting a local business!
- Use a credit card. In a fraudulent transaction, a credit card provides additional protection; it’s easier to dispute charges you didn’t approve or get your money back if there is a problem.
- Protect your personal information. Keep your software up to date and read over the website’s privacy policy. If a site doesn’t have a privacy policy, that’s a big red flag.
- Keep documentation of your order. Email yourself a receipt or save a copy of the confirmation page. According to the FTC, when you shop online, sellers are supposed to ship your order within the time stated in their ads or within 30 days if the ads don’t give a time. If a seller can’t ship within the promised time, they have to provide you with a revised shipping date, with the chance to either cancel your order for a full refund or accept the new shipping date.
If you’ve been the victim of an online shopping scam, report it to the BBB Scam Tracker. Your report helps us build consumer awareness and reduce the effectiveness of scammers’ favorite tactics. Have additional questions? Reach out to your BBB at 216.241.7678 or [email protected].
