BBB Tip of the Week: Cyber Monday and Giving Tuesday tips

Now that you have taken advantage of Black Friday and Small Business Saturday, you may be gearing up for Cyber Monday, and if you saved as much as you thought you would, you may have a few dollars to donate to Giving Tuesday.

Cyber Monday achieved a new record last year with $3.45 billion spent online, and Giving Tuesday saw a 13 percent increase. Better Business Bureau serving the Northwest wants to provide you with a few tips for shopping online and donating to charities this holiday season:

Check a site’s security settings. If the site is secure, its URL (web address) should start with “https://” and include a lock icon on the purchase or shopping cart page.

Be a savvy shopper. When shopping online, be sure to take your time to read the fine print before submitting your order. Look for the return policy; although many online orders can be returned for a full refund, others have restocking fees. Some items cannot be returned. Know before you buy.

Protect personal information. Read a site’s privacy policy and understand what personal information is being requested and how it will be used. If a site doesn’t have a privacy policy, that’s a big red flag that it may be a scam.

Look out for email phishing scams. This email disguises itself as a survey that lures consumers in with a free gift that claims to only have a small shipping fee. Once the item is shipped, consumers are charged for the full price of the item. Consumers are also unaware that they have signed up for monthly shipments of the item and are charged full price each month.

Look out for imposter apps. Consumers should examine apps carefully before making a purchase, especially with fake apps that mimic real ones. According to a report released by the Federal Trade Commission, fake apps could steal consumers’ personal information and install malware on a device.

Shop with a credit card. In case of a fraudulent transaction, a credit card provides additional protections; it’s easier to dispute charges that you didn’t approve. Debit cards, prepaid cards or gift cards don’t have the same protections as a credit card.

Give wisely. Dubious charities often pick a name that sounds similar to a famous charity.  Before giving, donors should research to learn the exact name of the charity they want to support. For a complete guide to charities go to www.give.org. Beware of crowdfunding sites and make sure you know the recipient; confirm they will be the beneficiary.