Shop safely this season

MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL
By DEBRA BERLYN
Nov. 26, 2007

There’s leftover turkey and pie in the fridge. Now what?

It’s time to begin the holiday shopping frenzy. For many, that means a trek to the mall. However, for an increasing number of consumers, holiday shopping entails going to your computer to shop online. So avoid the crowds and practice “safe shopping.”

In the retail world, the day after Thanksgiving is known as “Black Friday.” It’s the busiest shopping day of the year, and retailers hope it gets them in the black. With the advent of online shopping, we now have a new retail term: “Cyber Monday.”

Today is Cyber Monday, the online shopping kickoff. We sit at our desks, think about the approaching holidays and shop. The National Retail Federation predicts that 30% of consumers plan to shop online this holiday season. According to Forrester Research, consumers will spend more than $33 billion on their online holiday purchases this year; many online retailers offer special prices and promotions to encourage sales.

Shopping on the Internet saves time and often can save money. But just as consumers need to keep their wallet or purse out of the reach of pickpockets at the mall, online shoppers need to follow some safe shopping guidelines to avoid fraud, scams, phishing or identity theft.

Here are some simple tips:

• Keep your computer in a safe, private place. Don’t leave it out in the open for others to view the screen or access your personal information.

• When shopping, always use a major credit card; most cards will protect you from online fraud. When possible, try to keep all purchases on the same card to make it easier to track them and avoid confusion when you receive your bill. Make sure to read the retailers’ policy on returns and damaged goods; know what you are buying and the return policy.

• Product reviews are available on some shopping sites, such as Amazon or Epinions, providing an opportunity to view other consumers’ assessment of the online retailer and the quality of the products. The Websites Froogle, BizRate and PriceGrabber also offer price comparisons for a number of products. If you are uncertain of the legitimacy of an online retailer, make sure there is an address and working telephone number listed on the Web site.

• Be aware that there are criminals who prey on unsuspecting online consumers. E-mails that appear to be sent from your bank asking for personal account information such as your account number, password or Social Security number are likely the work of a scam artist. Do not respond with any personal information.

These e-mails and instant messages are referred to as “phishing.” Scam artists use convincing messages to lure you in to capture your personal information. Scam artists have used the bank information to withdraw funds from their victims’ personal accounts. Make sure you install anti-virus software to help minimize these phishing e-mails.

• The Federal Trade Commission has an ID Theft Clearinghouse that can be accessed at www.consumer.gov/idtheft. The FTC offers several useful tips on how to stay safe through a campaign called OnGuardOnline (www.OnGuardOnline.gov). Another source is the National Fraud Information Center/Internet Fraud Watch at www.fraud.org.

• Children are not immune to these tactics. Parents who worry about their children online during the holiday season have tools available to offer protection. The Family Online Safety Institute offers suggestions and recommendations at www.fosi.org.

The Internet offers a shopping option that will help reduce the hassle and stress of holiday shopping. No more fighting for a parking spot at the mall. Just remember to be a safe and savvy shopper. Then let your fingers do the shopping online.

Debra Berlyn is president of Consumer Policy Solutions and an online consumer advocate.

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