It’s back-to-school time, which means parents and students are likely searching online for ways to save on college supplies. And while the latest deals may save you time and money, scammers may be trying to rip you off.
— an article in the Consumer Advice section of the Federal Trade Commission website
Shopping for the new school year can add up, and if you move too quickly, you can easily miss details. Like return and refund policies in case what you receive isn’t what you expected. Or shipping times and fees so there are no unpleasant surprises.
To avoid future problems when shopping online, please read these instructions before clicking the “Order” button.
• Pay by credit card if possible. This will give you the most protection. If you paid with a credit card and were charged twice, never received what you bought, or had other issues with the purchase, you should be able to get a full refund. If the seller insists you pay with gift cards, bank transfer, or cryptocurrency, that’s a sign of fraud.
• Know who you are buying from. Before you add an item to your cart, do your research on the site. Read what people are saying, but be on the lookout for fake reviews. Check multiple sources and consider where a review was published, who wrote it, and the reviewer’s history.
• Keep receipts. Keep a record of what you bought, how much you spent, where you bought it, and write down your receipts or credit card statements.
• Take delivery delays into account. If you bought something online and never received it, notify the seller as soon as possible. If the seller did not ship the item within the time period promised at the time of purchase, the law allows you to cancel the order and get a full refund.
— written by Tyra Alexander, Public Affairs and Digital Media Intern at the FTC
