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9 Tips to Avoid Scams 1. Know who you're dealing with. Check out unfamiliar sellers with the Better Business Bureau and your state or local consumer protection agency. If you're buying gifts on an online auction site that provides a feedback forum, check the track record of the seller before you bid. Don't buy things in response to unsolicited emails from unknown companies, since these may be fraudulent. 2. Get all the details. Get the name and physical address of the seller; how much the product or service costs; what is included for that price; whether there are shipping charges; the delivery time, if any; the seller's privacy policy; and the cancellation and return policy. 3. Look for signs that online purchases are secure. At the point
that you are providing your payment information, the beginning of the
Web site address should change from http to shttp or https,
indicating that the information is being encrypted -- turned into code
that can only be read by the seller. Your browser may also signal that
the information is secure with a symbol, such as a broken key that
becomes whole or a padlock that closes. 4. Pay the safest way. It's best to use a credit card, especially when
you're purchasing something that will be delivered later, because under
federal law you can dispute the charges if you don't get what you were
promised. You also have dispute rights if there are unauthorized charges
on your credit card, and many card issues have "zero
liability" policies under which you pay nothing if someone steals
your credit card number and uses it. 5. Never enter your personal information in a pop-up screen. When you
visit a company's Web site, an unauthorized pop-up screen created by an
identity thief could appear with blanks for you to provide your personal
information. Legitimate companies don't ask for personal information via
pop-up screens. Install pop-up blocking software to avoid this type of
scam. 6. Keep documentation of your order. When you've completed the online
order process, there may be a final confirmation page and/or you might
receive confirmation by email. Print that information and keep it handy
in case you need it later. 7. Know your rights. Federal law requires orders made by mail, phone or
online to be shipped by the date promised or, if no delivery time was
stated, within 30 days. If the goods aren't shipped on time, you can
cancel and demand a refund. There is no general three-day cancellation
right, but you do have the right to reject merchandise if it's defective
or was misrepresented. Otherwise, it's the company's policies that
determine if you can cancel the purchase and whether you can get a
refund or credit. 8. Check your credit card and bank statements carefully. Notify the
bank immediately if there are unauthorized charges or debits, if you
were charged more than you should have been, or if there are any other
problems. 9. Contact the seller promptly about any problems with your order.
Check the company's Web site for a customer service page, "contact
us" link, email address, or phone number to get your complaint
addressed or questions answered. If you can't resolve the problem,
contact the Better Business Bureau or your state or local consumer
protection agency for help.
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