BBB Offers Safety Tips When Shopping Online During Cyber Monday

With Black Friday behind us, many are waiting until today to go online to find their holiday shopping deals.

Today is Cyber Monday and the Better Business Bureau is offering some tips for consumers on how to keep your personal information safe while shopping online.

First, make sure your computer has the latest antivirus and anti-spyware installed and a secure firewall.

Second, only shop on Websites you know are trustworthy. If you’re not sure you can go to the Better Business Bureau’s Web site and check on the seller’s reputation and record for customer satisfaction.

Third, protect your personal information by reading the seller’s privacy policy. If one isn’t posted, take that as a red flag that your personal information might be sold to others without your permission.

Also, beware of deals that sound too good to be true from unsolicited emails.

And beware of phishing – Legitimate businesses do not send e-mails claiming problems with an order or an account to lure the “buyer” into revealing financial information.

Confirm your online purchase is secure by checking to see if there’s an s in https:// and look for the lock symbol in the lower right hand corner of your screen. If those are not there, the site may not be secure.

Finally, always pay with a credit card because under federal law, the shopper can dispute the charges if he or she doesn’t receive the item.

Shoppers also have dispute rights if there are unauthorized charges on their credit card, and many card issuers have “zero liability” policies under which the card holder pays nothing if someone steals the credit card number and uses it. Never wire money and only shop locally on sites like Craigslist.

For more advice on staying safe online this holiday season, and to see reports on thousands of online retailers, go to www.bbb.org/us/consumer-tips-holiday/