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Attorney General Mike DeWine
DeWine Offers
Five Tips to Avoid Scams While Shopping Online
(COLUMBUS, Ohio)—As consumers shop online during Cyber Monday and
throughout the holiday season, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine is
encouraging them to protect their personal information and avoid scams
online.
“It’s a busy time of year, but it’s important not to let your guard
down when it comes to identity theft and fraud prevention,” Attorney
General DeWine said. “We encourage people to check out the websites
they’re using before entering payment information, to be careful about
the type of payment they use when shopping online, and to watch for
signs of a scam.”
The Monday after Thanksgiving, known as Cyber Monday, is considered one
of the biggest online shopping days of the year, and according to
survey results from the National Retail Federation, almost half of
holiday shopping (browsing and buying) will occur online this year.
To avoid scams while shopping online, Attorney General DeWine offers
consumers the following recommendations:
Install updates on your devices before shopping. Installing updates on
your phone, tablet, computer, or other electronic devices can add new
security patches and critical files, so make sure your apps, anti-virus
software, operating systems, and other important programs are up to
date before entering payment information. Remember to download or
install updates only from the official app provider.
Review complaints against online sellers. Check for consumer complaints
on file with the Ohio Attorney General’s Office and Better Business
Bureau. Also use a search engine to type the name of the company or
website along with terms such as “complaint,” “scam,” or “review.” If
you find mostly negative information, or if you find no information at
all, be skeptical. Don’t enter any personal information if a website
seems less than credible.
Use a secure Internet connection. Before entering a credit card number
or other personal information, be sure the web address begins with
“https” instead of “http.” The “s” indicates a secure connection. Also,
do not use free, public Wi-Fi to log in to your bank accounts or to
enter your credit card or other financial account information.
Pay with a credit card. When you pay with a credit card, you generally
have stronger protections against fraudulent charges. Be sure to save
documentation, such as invoices and confirmation emails, to compare
them against your credit card statements. If you find any unusual
activity or unauthorized purchases, report it to your credit card
provider immediately. Also, be suspicious of any sellers that require
you to pay via wire transfer or prepaid money card. These are preferred
payment methods for scam artists, because it is difficult to recover or
trace the money once it’s sent.
Don’t respond to pop-up messages. Some pop-up messages are placed by
scam artists hoping to obtain your money or personal information. For
example, in one version of the “tech support scam,” you receive a
pop-up message from someone who claims to represent your computer
company and says your device has been infected with a virus. The
message prompts you to call for more information. Eventually a
representative asks you for payment information or access to your
computer to help fix the problem. Even if it sounds legitimate, it’s
actually a scam.
In October, Attorney General DeWine announced a new cybersecurity
awareness campaign to help Ohioans avoid identity theft and cyber
fraud. The grant-funded program includes cybersecurity messages that
are being displayed in public transit systems and made available for
libraries and schools throughout Ohio. It also includes community
education about online security and privacy.
Consumers who want to learn more about cybersecurity or report a
potential scam should contact the Ohio Attorney General's Office at
www.OhioAttorneyGeneral.gov or 800-282-0515.
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