GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – If you’re going to order Christmas presents online, you might want to get started on that action. But it’s always a good idea to know where you’re buying from.
“Shoppers have to be extra careful and research websites before they buy,” said Susan Bach of the Better Business Bureau. “The appearance of the website is not going to be the main factor in you choosing that website. It’s really important that you look for other sources so you can verify the legitimacy of that website.”
A major problem with this holiday season comes in relation to the current supply chain issues that are hitting just about every industry right now.
“Scammers do capitalize on the well-known supply chain issues and things like that,” Bach said. “Scammers will probably create fake websites and promise that they have this season’s hottest toy or go-to item when they really don’t.”
Other common issues include clicking on ads that pique your interest on social media. While some of them are legitimate, others might take you to a bogus site with prices that are just too good to be true.
“An old adage but it’s true – if the deal looks too good to be true, it probably is…the top motivating factor for people who made a purchase and then lost money, was price. So it’s not wise to shop on price alone,” Bach told WTAQ News.
The way you pay can also cause headaches and frustration. Some scammers will pose as companies, asking you to pay for items through a new digital peer-to-peer payment platform like Venmo. That should be an immediate red flag.
“The reason that scammers use that payment method, is that they can really remain anonymous and that payment method is irreversible,” Bach said. “Make sure that you use secure and traceable transactions and payment methods. Shop with a credit card, because of that method of payment has the most consumer protection.”
You can learn more about how to shop safe online by heading to BBB.org.
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