Issue link: https://imageup.uberflip.com/i/1312513
BEWARE OF FAKE SHOPPING WEBSITES The holidays are upon us and many consumers have encountered problems with online orders from shopping sites that look like they are based in the U.S. but are actually based overseas, out of reach of many legal protections for shoppers. In the cases we've seen, consumers either do not receive their orders or receive products that are poorly made, in the wrong size, or do not match the advertised product. Often, when the consumer tries to return the products, they learn that the shipping costs would be exorbitant. Because these companies are overseas, there's very little recourse when something goes wrong so prevention is the best prescription. Here are some tips on spotting a fake site: • Look for a physical address and phone number on the website. • Before ordering, try to call any listed phone number to see if it works. Beware of post office box addresses, which may indicate that there is no physical address and that mail is forwarded elsewhere. • Check where the products will be shipped from. If they are shipped from overseas, the order may take a long time to arrive (or never arrive) or you could receive the wrong product. • Find reviews (if any) about the company by entering its name in a search engine. • Compare the prices on its products on other more well-known sites. It could be a red flag for fraud if its prices are a lot lower than at other sites. • Review the terms and conditions of the site. Look for its refund policy, average delivery times, and return shipping costs. • Always use a credit card; credit cards provide more protection than a debit or prepaid card if you need to dispute the purchase. Report fraudulent shopping sites to: • Federal Trade Commission • Your state attorney general • Internet Crime Complaint Center Now that you have successfully ordered let's make sure when they are delivered you actually receive them. Here are some tips: • Always track your packages so you know when they will be delivered so you or a designated person can be home to bring them indoors. • If you see a neighbor's packages sitting on their porch knock on the door to make them aware of them or bring them to your home and leave a note telling them you have their packages. Neighborhood Watch would like to wish everyone a very Happy Holiday and a Joyous New Year! We look forward to 2021! ~ Kathy Craven kcravenbod@yahoo.com 20 FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | DECEMBER 2020 Neighborhood Watch