When you shop online,
you're anonymous. False
Many web sellers want to know about you and your buying habits so they can
share or sell the information. Your best protection is to shop only from vendors that post
their privacy policies online and offer you options about the use of your personal
information.
A credit card is the
safest way to pay for your at-home purchases. True
Paying by credit card offers you protections you don't get when you pay with
cash, checks, money orders or debit cards. Credit cards give you the best recourse if you
never receive the order or the products or services were misrepresented, and your
liability is limited to $50 if your card or credit card number is used without your
permission.
Shipping and handling fees
are always included in the base price of an item. False
Many vendors add these fees to the price of an item based on where the order
is to be shipped or the cost or weight of the goods. To determine the actual cost of the
item you're buying, it's important to factor in these added fees.
Sellers are always
required to ship your merchandise no more than 30 days after the order date. False
The law requires sellers to ship items by the time they promise, or, if no delivery time
is stated, within 30 days after the order date. If the seller can't ship the goods within
the stated time frame or 30-day deadline, the seller must notify you, give you a chance to
cancel your order and send a full refund if you've chosen to cancel.
A company with a fancy
Internet home page is unlikely to be fraudulent. False
The explosion in computer technology means that anyone -- even a con artist
-- can easily set up an impressive-looking web site. If you've never heard of the company
you're ordering from, it's a smart move to get more information before placing an order.
If you don't specify a
delivery method, a vendor will always ship your order the least-expensive way. False
Buyers can generally choose to have their orders shipped by standard/ground, two-day or
overnight delivery, at various costs. If you don't specify which you want, you may end up
paying more than you intended for shipping.
Shopping from a reputable
company is one of your best protections against fraud. True
Before ordering from an unfamiliar seller, it's a good idea to make sure it's
legitimate. Friends who have dealt with the company, your local consumer protection
office, the state
Attorney General's office and the Better Business Bureau are possible sources of
information. If in doubt, it's best to stick with a company you know.
When providing a company a
password to order online, it's wise to use the same one you use to access your
computer or network. False
Your safest bet is to choose an entirely different password. And it's a good practice to
choose a different password every time to register with a new site.
When you order on a secure
browser, the information can't be intercepted and read by others. True
A secure browser, symbolized by a locked key or padlock symbol on the browser
window, means that your information is encrypted for safe online transmission.
An escrow service offers
protections when buying through an online auction. True
Although these services generally charge a fee, they can help keep you from
ending up empty-handed after you've paid your money.
Telemarketers are
unlikely to try to defraud a consumer who's already been scammed. False
Con artists often put together "sucker lists" of people who've
already lost money through fraudulent promotions or merchandise sales. These lists are
frequently sold to other con artists.
Telemarketers are unable
to provide consumers with written information about their products or services. False
Reputable companies almost always have details about what they're selling to send to
consumers on request.
Reputable door-to-door
salespeople generally carry identification about themselves and their product. True.
Identification doesn't necessarily mean a seller is bona fide, but lack of identification
is almost a sure sign that a seller isn't. Your best protection is to tell anyone who
can't provide it to leave.
You have three days to
cancel any order. False
By law, you have the right to cancel any door-to-door purchase of $25 or more
within three days. But you don't have an automatic three-day cancellation right for mail,
telephone or online orders. Check with your state consumer agency to find out if you have
this right under state law.
