Warnings from BBB ahead of Black Friday
Posted Nov 24, 2015 12:04 pm.
Last Updated Nov 24, 2015 12:26 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Black Friday is nearly here, but don’t get so caught up in the excitement that you become a victim of fraudsters.
Leah Brownridge with the Better Business Bureau has a number of important reminders for shoppers.
“Pickpockets are looking for people in crowds who seem to be distracted,” she told 660 NEWS.
“You want to make sure you know where your valuables are and that you can handle what you’re carrying. You also want to make sure whatever you are carrying is secure with zippers and secure pouches.”
She added, don’t leave your phone, your wallet or money anywhere someone can just grab it. When you’re paying, she recommends you wait until asked before taking out your credit card and be wary of who’s watching.
One of the biggest ways to protect yourself, of course, is to unload your bags and boxes regularly — and put them in the trunk of your car, where no one can see them
Here are some tips directly from the BBB when it comes to shopping online:
— Look for “https.”On the payment page, look for “https” at the beginning of the address (the “s” stands for “secure”).
— Look for legitimate logos. Scammers often use realistic looking logos from recognized and established retailers. Look for slight misspellings of business names, variations of logos or URLs to spot fake websites before making a purchase.
— Contact the business directly. Verify payment/shipping/refund policies as well as their location by contacting the business directly before making your purchase.
— Use a credit card. Never wire money to people or businesses you don’t know. Instead, pay with a credit card for added fraud protection. You can dispute charges if there are any unauthorized charges on the card, and many card issuers have zero-liability policies if someone steals and uses your card number. Check your credit card statement regularly for unauthorized charges.
— Beware of phishing. Legitimate businesses do not send emails claiming problems with an order, account or a package to lure the buyer into revealing financial information. When in doubt, contact the business directly to confirm the issue.
— Protect your computer. Install a firewall, anti-virus and anti-spyware software. Check for and install the latest updates and run virus scans regularly.
Whether shopping online or in person, you can go to bbb.org ahead of time to look for BBB Business reviews of your favourite retailers.
