The Monday following Thanksgiving is often referred to as “Cyber Monday,” and in recent years, it has been the largest online sales day of the year.
In 2009, nearly $900 million worth of goods and services were purchased on this day (with over half of these sales conducted from work computers!) So, how can one buy online safely without being taken to the cyber cleaners?
The Better Business Bureau has 10 tips for online holiday shoppers.
Protect your computer: Your computer should always have the most recent updates installed for anti-virus and anti-spyware software and a secure firewall turned and kept on.
Only shop on trustworthy websites: Visit the BBB’s website to check on the seller’s reputation and record for customer satisfaction.
Protect your personal information: Take time to read the seller’s privacy policy and understand what personal information is being requested and how it will be used. If there isn’t a privacy policy posted, that should be a red flag that personal information may be sold without permission.
Beware of deals that sound too good to be true: Website offers and unsolicited e-mails can often sound too good to be true, especially low prices on hard-to-get items. Consumers should always go with their instincts and not be afraid to pass up a “deal” that might cost them in the end.
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. If you receive such an e-mail, pick up the phone and call the contact number on the website where the purchase was made to confirm that there really is a problem with the transaction.
Confirm that your online purchase is secure: Look in your internet browser’s address box for the “s” in “https://” and in the lower-right corner for the “lock” symbol before paying. If there are any doubts about a site, right-click anywhere on the page and select “Properties.”
This will let you see the real URL (website address), and the dialog box will reveal if the site is not encrypted.
Pay with a credit card: It’s best to use a credit card because, under federal law, you can dispute the charges if you don’t receive an item.
You also have dispute rights if there are unauthorized charges on their credit card, and many card issuers have “zero liability” policies under which you may actually pay nothing if someone steals the credit card number and uses it.
Keep documentation of your order: After completing the online order process, there should be a final confirmation page, or you might receive confirmation by e-mail. If so, save a copy of the web page and e-mails for future reference and as a record of the purchase.
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Check your credit card statements often: Don’t wait for paper statements. Check your credit card statements for suspicious activity by calling the credit card companies or checking online statements regularly.
Know your rights: Federal law requires that orders made by mail, phone or online 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 misrepresented. Otherwise, it’s the company’s policies that determine if you can cancel the purchase and receive a refund or credit.
If you have questions about computer security or have ideas for future topics, please feel free to contact me at mcarr@unm.edu.
Mike Carr is the UNM director of IT Security & Quality Assurance.
