The year’s second biggest shopping season is upon us and as kids gear up to go back to school, many parents will be looking for sales, discounts — anyway to reduce costs.
To help families get through this stressful time, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) has released a handful of tips to survive back too school shopping and avoid the season’s online scams that come with it.
For those who prefer shopping in store, the BBB recommends creating a list before you even step foot out the door. Look around your home to see what’s leftover from the year before. You might need some new pencils, but odds are the old pencil sharpener hasn’t lost its edge.
If you’re looking to pick up a big ticket item like a laptop or tablet, do your research. Beyond which product is best for you, check out different sellers for the best price, and if you have doubts, look up the retailer on bbb.org.
Keep an eye out for sales, student discounts or coupons, and consider getting email alerts on the latest back-to-school deal.
When you do make your purchase ask about the store’s return policies; you never know if your kid will pick tomorrow to grow out of velcro.
It’s hard to argue with the convenience of online shopping, but with that ease comes an increased exposure to risk.
Online purchase scams rank among the top five riskiest scams this year, according to the BBB.
You can help minimize that risk by doing the following:
- Shop on legitimate websites. Scammers have gamed Google search algorithms before and fake contact numbers and websites often make their way to the top of searches, tricking you into thinking you’re buying from a legitimate retailer.
- Make sure that the website's URL starts with “https” and includes a lock symbol. The “s” in “https” shows that your information is being protected.
- Review the privacy policy and contact information for the business. If these details are not clearly listed on the website or they only have an email address as their point of contact, treat this as a big red flag and shop elsewhere.
- Check for customer reviews and badges for consumer protection agencies, like BBB’s seal of trust.
- Avoid flashy pop-up ads. These may just be click-bait ads that trick you into revealing personal and financial information.
- Pay with a credit card. This payment method not only provides additional protection, but makes it easier to dispute a fraudulent charge.
- Avoid websites that ask for your or your child’s personal information. If a scammer gets a hold of a Social Insurance Number (SIN), they’ll have a blank slate to create and obtain fraudulent records which can go undetected for several years.
- If you’re buying items on Craigslist, avoid wire transfers. Instead, opt for PayPal or pay in cash. Organize with the seller to meet in a public place and bring someone with you to help ensure your safety. Before making the exchange, check to see the item is as advertised.
