Maureen Wallenfang
Appleton Post-Crescent
Published 8:19 AM EST Nov 28, 2019
Online shopping and gift cards are prime targets for scammers.
To avoid getting ripped off, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) offers tips and tip-offs.
“Every year we receive complaints from people who thought they were buying holiday presents but never got them,” said Lara Sutherlin, administrator of DATCP’s division of trade and consumer protection. “It’s important for consumers to recognize how they can protect their holiday purchases from a scam.”
Shopping online
•Avoid suspiciously deep discounts or free offers, including social media posts or emails that offer these deals. If something seems too good to be true, it probably is.
•Verify websites before ordering. A quick internet search can help you verify the company’s information and find any warnings about a website.
•Check that you are using a secure website (“https” rather than “http”) before entering your password or any personal or banking information.
•Pay by credit card. Federal law gives you the right to dispute charges if you report them to the credit card company within 60 days of receiving your statement.
•Keep a paper trail and review credit card statements after the holidays for any unauthorized charges.
Gift card scams
•Phony surveys promise a free gift card in exchange for your personal information. Scammers sell your personal information and no gift card is ever sent.
• Unsolicited messages, such as email, text, social media or internet ads, promise a free gift card. Do not click on any links. Delete the message.
•Discounted or bulk gift cards from online auction sites might be used or expired.
Fake shipping notices
Tip-offs that it’s a scam: Emails that claim to be from a legitimate company have poor grammar or spelling errors. The sender’s email address does not match the company’s web address, lacks specifics about the sender or doesn’t list package’s supposed contents. The notice might threaten that a package will be returned to the sender, or that you will be charged a fee for not responding to the message. Do not provide personal information or open an attachment to review an order.
Info: datcp.wi.gov or 800-422-7128
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