Online Holiday Shopping Tips

[Rodney Petersen <rpetersen () EDUCAUSE EDU>]

Although the press release and tips below are specific to "online
holiday shopping", they represent good advice for all forms of
e-commerce.  Please feel free to share this information with your campus
community as appropriate.  Note that the EDUCAUSE/Internet2 Security
Task Force is a partner in promoting cybersecurity awareness with the
National Cyber Security Alliance.
 
-Rodney

--------------------------------------------------
Rodney J. Petersen
Policy Analyst & Security Task Force Coordinator

EDUCAUSE
1150 18th Street, N.W., Suite 1010
Washington, D.C.  20036
(202) 331-5368 / (202) 872-4200
(202) 872-4318 (FAX) 
EDUCAUSE/Internet2 Security Task Force
www.educause.edu/security <http://www.educause.edu/> 
-------------------------------------------------- 

SHOPPING ONLINE FOR THE HOLIDAYS: TWELVE TIPS TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM
CYBER GRINCHES, SCAMS AND SCHEMES

The National Consumers League, the National Cyber Security Alliance and
the Better Business Bureau Provide Joint Advice on Safe Online Shopping
Do's and Don'ts

Media Contact:

 

National Cyber Security Alliance: 

Julie Han, 415-975-3327, jhan () porternovelli com

 

WASHINGTON, DC -November 17, 2005 - The holiday season is a busy time as
people hunt for the perfect gifts for family and friends. The Internet
can make your shopping faster and easier, but there can also be pitfalls
if you're not careful. The National Consumers League, the Better
Business Bureau and the National Cyber Security Alliance offer key
advice to ensure you have a safe online shopping experience, so that
your gift-giving is a joyous occasion, not an opportunity for cyber
thieves: 

1.      Know who you're dealing with. Check out unfamiliar sellers with
the Better Business Bureau <http://www.bbb.org/>  and your state or
local consumer protection agency. If you're buying gifts on an online
auction site that provides a feedback forum, check the track record of
the seller before you bid. Don't buy things in response to unsolicited
emails from unknown companies, since these may be fraudulent.

2.      Get all the details. Get the name and physical address of the
seller; how much the product or service costs; what is included for that
price; whether there are shipping charges; the delivery time, if any;
the seller's privacy policy; and the cancellation and return policy.

3.      Look for signs that online purchases are secure. At the point
that you are providing your payment information, the beginning of the
Web site address should change from http to shttp or https, indicating
that the information is being encrypted - turned into code that can only
be read by the seller. Your browser may also signal that the information
is secure with a symbol, such as a broken key that becomes whole or a
padlock that closes. 

4.      Pay the safest way. It's best to use a credit card, especially
when you're purchasing something that will be delivered later, because
under federal law you can dispute the charges if you don't get what you
were promised. You also have dispute rights if there are unauthorized
charges on your credit card, and many card issues have "zero liability"
policies under which you pay nothing if someone steals your credit card
number and uses it.

5.      Never enter your personal information in a pop-up screen.  When
you visit a company's Web site, an unauthorized pop-up screen created by
an identity thief could appear, with blanks for you to provide your
personal information. Legitimate companies don't ask for personal
information via pop-up screens. Install pop-up blocking software to
avoid this type of scam.

6.      Keep documentation of your order.  When you've completed the
online order process, there may be a final confirmation page and/or you
might receive confirmation by email. Print that information and keep it
handy in case you need it later.    

7.      Know your rights. Federal law requires orders made by mail,
phone or online to be shipped by the date promised or, if no delivery
time was stated, within 30 days. If the goods aren't shipped on time,
you can cancel and demand a refund. There is no general three-day
cancellation right, but you do have the right to reject merchandise if
it's defective or was misrepresented. Otherwise, it's the company's
policies that determine if you can cancel the purchase and whether you
can get a refund or credit.

8.      Be suspicious if someone contacts you unexpectedly and asks for
your personal information. Identity thieves send out bogus emails about
problems with consumers' accounts to lure them into providing their
personal information. Legitimate companies don't operate that way.

9.      Check your credit card and bank statements carefully. Notify the
bank immediately if there are unauthorized charges or debits, if you
were charged more than you should have been, or if there are any other
problems.

10.  Keep your computer secure for safe shopping and other online
activities. Protect your computer with spam filters, anti-virus and
anti-spyware software, and a firewall, and keep them up to date. Go to
www.staysafeonline.org <http://www.staysafeonline.org/>  and
www.onguardonline.gov <http://www.onguardonline.gov/>  to learn more
about how to keep your computer secure. 

11.  Beware of emails offering loans or credit, even if you have credit
problems. Con artists take advantage of cash-strapped consumers during
the holidays to offer personal loans or credit cards for a fee upfront.
These scammers simply take the money and run.

12. Contact the seller promptly about any problems with your order.
Check the company's Web site for a customer service page, "contact us"
link, email address, or phone number to get your complaint addressed or
questions answered. If you can't resolve the problem, contact the Better
Business Bureau <http://www.bbb.org/>  or your state or local consumer
protection agency for help.    

  

These tips are available at www.nclnet.org/holiday
<http://www.nclnet.org/holiday>  or www.staysafeonline.org
<http://www.staysafeonline.org/>  . NCL offers advice about shopping
safely online at www.nclnet.org/shoppingonline
<http://www.nclnet.org/shoppingonline>  and telemarketing and Internet
fraud tips at www.fraud.org <http://www.fraud.org/> .  The BBB offers
reports on several million businesses at www.bbb.org
<http://www.bbb.org/>  and access to nearly 25,000 BBBOnLine seal
holders, plus consumer and business tips, at www.bbbonline.org
<http://www.bbbonline.org/> . 

 

 

About the National Consumers League

Founded in 1899, NCL's mission is to protect and promote social and
economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and
abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org
<http://www.nclnet.org> 

 

About the National Cyber Security Alliance

A not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization, the National Cyber Security
Alliance (NCSA) is a central clearinghouse for cyber security awareness
and education for home users, small businesses, and the education
community. A public-private partnership, NCSA sponsors include the
Department of Homeland Security, Federal Trade Commission, and many
private-sector corporations and organizations. For more information, and
to review the top 8 cyber security practices, visit
www.staysafeonline.org.

 

About the Better Business Bureau (www.bbb.org <http://www.bbb.org/> ) 

 

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) system is dedicated to fostering fair
and honest relationships between businesses and consumers, instilling
consumer confidence and contributing to an ethical business environment,
in both the traditional and online marketplaces. The first BBB was
founded in 1912, and the network of BBBs and the Council of Better
Business Bureaus have grown to become the most recognized advocate for
promoting ethical business and advertising practices, providing more
than 60 million instances of service to consumers and businesses in
2004. BBBs in the U.S. and Canada are supported by 375,000 business
members throughout North America.