Spotted must-have products at shockingly low prices? It could be a scam! While that e-bike or designer handbag may look tempting, fake sites and ads often steal logos and photos from legitimate businesses to trick shoppers. To keep your holiday shopping safe and stress-free, check out these tips from the Federal Trade Commission on how to spot deceptive offers.
- Do your homework. Before purchasing from an unfamiliar seller, search online using their name along with terms like “review,” “complaint” or “scam” to see what others have experienced.
- Review the sale terms. Check the price, additional charges, refund policy, who covers return shipping and if there’s a restocking fee.
- Pay with a credit card whenever possible. Credit cards provide extra protection and allow you to dispute charges if you don’t receive what you ordered or receive nothing at all.
- Avoid online sellers who insist on payment via gift cards, wire transfers, payment apps or cryptocurrency. These are common red flags for scams.
And if you happen to encounter an issue while shopping online, contact the seller to resolve it. If that doesn’t work, reach out to your payment provider to dispute the charges. If they can’t assist, report the issue to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
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