NEWS RELEASE

Media Contact:
Renee Beauregard 303-400-3456
Whitney Cortner, 720-479-3311, email wcortner@colocu.com

Safely Shopping Online – What You Need to Remember

By Renée Beauregard, Executive Director, Consumers United Association

Tired of the busy malls, traffic congestion, skimpy selections and long check-out lines? Shopping online offers 24-7 convenience and unlimited choices but can also cause concern for the level of security online regarding credit card and personal information. Be a savvy online shopper by educating yourself on safe shopping tips.

According to The Better Business Bureau, "73% of purchasers and 82% of non-purchasers cite reliability of business as a major concern when shopping online."The BBB addresses this concern by offering the BBBOnLine Reliability Seal and encourages shoppers to look for the seal before doing business with an online vendor.

Also, be aware of false e-mail or pop-ups and don’t fall victim to unsolicited e-mail messages that are often the result of fraudsters. In fact, a simple click of your mouse to a link in one of these e-mails can instantly install spyware on your computer. So, it’s important to make sure you have anti-virus, anti-spyware and a firewall on your system.

Use your common sense when shopping online and remember that shopping with a reputable seller is recommended. Be particularly careful when ordering items from overseas companies and don’t assume a company is ethical or provides secure online shopping based solely on the appearance of their Web site, because often looks can be deceiving. Before shopping, find the tiny padlock symbol in the bottom right corner of your browser window frame (not web page itself) and double check that the Web site address begins with https://.

Some additional tips for smart online shopping include:

• Before making a purchase online, make sure the vendor’s Web site lists a physical address and telephone number with contact details offline;
• Review the return, refund and shipping/handling policies before placing an order;
• Read the retailer’s privacy policy and exercise your right to “Opt Out”  if you don’t want your information sold to other companies;
• Be creative and private in choosing a password and never use your Social Security number;
• Keep a paper trail of your proof of purchase e-mail, confirmation codes, warranty, etc.;
• For security precautions, specify if the shipper must receive a signature before leaving your package at its destination;
• Inspect your purchase once received and contact the vendor ASAP if there’s a problem; and
• Check your monthly credit card statements to watch for any fraudulent activity.

Shop safely online through reputable companies that use secure server technology such as, rainbowrewards.com. Shopping directly through this particular site for example, gives you access to retailers such as Macy’s, Gap, and Nordstroms plus many others, and provides valuable incentives and benefits such as cash back. Just enroll your card for FREE on rainbowrewards.com or call 1-866-GET-GIVE. Plus, your card issuer may have already provided Rainbow Rewards as a free member benefit to your existing credit and/or debit card such as the over 25 area credit unions that participate and are listed on the Web site.

If you are overly concerned about inputting your personal information on the Web, consider getting a “single-use” credit card through your credit card company. But keep in mind that if a thief steals your credit card information online, you are only responsible for the initial $50 in charges.

To file a complaint about any fraudulent, deceptive or unfair business practices, contact The Federal Trade Commission toll-free at, 1-877-FTC-HELP or visit www.ftc.gov. To assist civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad, the FTC enters fraud related complaints into a secure online database called, Consumer Sentinel.

Dedicated to educating consumers on financial issues, Consumers United Association (CUA), a nonprofit consumer advocacy association that serves consumers in Colorado, aids consumers in the resolution of consumer problems and provides a united voice for consumers in the legislative arena. Membership to CUA is open to Colorado residents who are interested in financial education and advocacy and is only $5 annually and $25 for a lifetime. For more information visit: www.cuacolorado.org.