It’s holiday shopping season, and many wish lists are fulfilled online.
The West Virginia Attorney General’s Office advises extra caution when shopping online during the holidays.
“Consumers need to exercise extra caution when shopping online because this is the time of year when scammers try to take advantage of increased consumer activity,” Attorney General Patrick Morrisey said in a statement.
Morrisey advises that shoppers check the credentials of the website to make sure the retailer is legitimate. This can be done by looking up reviews of retailers and sticking with well known brands.
Consumers should rely upon secure payment systems and make sure any payment website starts with “https://” as the “s” indicates a secure page. Credit cards are recommended over debit cards, because credit card companies offer more consumer protections.
Shoppers are also advised to double check the delivery date before checking out. If no date is provided, the retailer has 30 days to ship the product.
The office also says to be careful when having products delivered to your home, as porch thefts increase during the holiday season.
Anyone who believes they have been the victim of a scam should contact the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division at 800-368-8808 or file a complaint online.