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Connecticut BBB Cautions Consumers about Risks and Red Flags When Buying Popular Electronic Items

12/1/2011

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Wallingford, CT – December 1, 2011 – The end of the year is one of the most popular times to buy electronic gifts and gadgets for personal or home use, and scammers know it.  

Connecticut Better Business Bureau has some tips to help consumers shopping for great deals online recognize the risks, and the warning signs and prevent falling victim to related scams.

Risks:
  • Fly-by-night retailers collecting payment information with no intention of shipping products.  Shoppers may face financial fraud
  • Unscrupulous sellers shipping counterfeit or aftermarket goods, which often hold little value and break quickly. Consumers may have difficulty collecting refunds
  • Hackers promoting enticing ads with low prices on "must-have" merchandise to get consumers to click on malicious hyperlinks or visit dangerous websites aimed at siphoning personal or financial data.  Victims may struggle to protect computer files and prevent virus damage

Red Flags:
  • Hot-ticket items like laptops, tablets and e-readers are advertised as "free" or priced way below market value; comparable items cost more on other sites
  • Products lack descriptions or with distorted photos
  • Websites are filled with high-pressure pop-up ads
  • Product ads are posted anonymously on unfamiliar sites, blogs or classifieds
  • Customer service representatives do not respond to phone or email inquiries
  • Basic contact information is not posted on websites or in ads
  • Business licensing or state registration is unverifiable
  • Sellers' sites are missing privacy policies
  • Check-out pages are not secure; there is no site encryption or "https"
  • Electronic checks and wire-transfers are the only accepted forms of payment
  • Websites trigger warnings from anti-virus software or firewalls
  • Internet searches reveal numerous negative reports from other consumers
  • BBB Business Reviews show unanswered or unresolved complaints
Visit www.bbb.org to check out online sellers and find trustworthy businesses.

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Founded in 1928, Connecticut BBB is an unbiased non-profit organization that sets and upholds high standards for fair and honest business behavior. BBB helps consumers find and recommend businesses, brands and charities they can trust, offers objective advice and a wide range of education on topics affecting marketplace trust. BBB also offers complaint and dispute resolution support for consumers and businesses. Today, 116 BBBs serve communities across the U.S. and Canada, evaluating and monitoring more than three million local and national businesses and charities. For more advice on finding companies and businesses, start your search with trust at www.bbb.org/.
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