College students will soon be returning to class, and many will be shopping for essentials online to get great deals, but those who don’t take precautions may encounter scammers along the way.
When shopping online, consider the following:
Returns and Refunds Policy
Delivery Time
postage
The Federal Trade Commission offers these tips to help students avoid scams:
Using a credit card
Pay with a credit card whenever possible. A credit card offers the most protection when making a purchase. Credit card companies will usually refund any duplicate charges or refunds if the item is not delivered.
The FTC says merchants who ask for payment in gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency may be attempting to defraud.
Remember: if you use a credit card, pay it off at the end of the month to avoid interest.
Know before you buy
Before you buy, visit a reputable vendor’s website or at least research the vendor to make sure they have a good reputation.
Look for reviews and check multiple sources to determine if they’re legitimate. You can check the reviewer’s history to see if they’ve reviewed other items.
Keep records and account for delays
After you make a purchase, keep all your receipts. Keep track of how much you spent and where you purchased the item.
If you don’t receive an item you purchased online, notify the seller immediately.
“If a merchant is going to delay shipping an order, the merchant must communicate this to the consumer and give them the option to accept the delay or cancel the order and receive a full refund,” the FTC states on its website. “If a merchant doesn’t ship an order, they must provide a full refund, not just a gift card or store credit.”
Find out more about the laws sellers must follow here.
Report all scams to the FTC.
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1 Comment
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