Shopping online offers lots of benefits that you won’t find shopping in a store or by mail. The Internet is always open and bargains can be numerous. With a click of a mouse, you can buy an airline ticket, book a hotel, send flowers to a friend, or buy your favorite fashions. But sizing up your finds on the Internet is a little different from checking out items at the mall.
Know who you’re dealing with. Anyone can set up shop online under almost any name. Confirm the online seller’s physical address and phone number in case you have questions or problems. If you get an email or pop-up message while you’re browsing that asks for financial information, don’t reply or click on the link in the message. Legitimate companies don’t ask for this information via email. • Know exactly what you’re buying. Read the seller’s description of the product closely, especially the fine print. Words like “refurbished,” “vintage,” or “close-out” may indicate that the product is in lessthan-mint condition, while name-brand items with “too good to be true” prices could be counterfeits. • Know what it will cost. Check out websites that offer price comparisons and then compare “apples to apples.” Factor shipping and handling – along with your needs and budget – into the total cost of the order. Do not send cash under any circumstances. • Pay by credit or charge card. If you pay by credit or charge card online, your transaction will be protected by the Fair Credit Billing Act. Under this law, you have the right to dispute charges under certain circumstances and temporarily withhold payment while the creditor is investigating them. In the event of unauthorized use of your credit or charge card, you generally would be held liable only for the first $50 in charges. Some companies offer an online shopping guarantee that ensures you will not be held responsible for any unauthorized charges made online, and some cards may provide additional warranty, return, and/ or purchase protection benefits. • Check out the terms of the deal, like refund policies and delivery dates. When you will receive your order? Can you return the item for a full refund if you’re not satisfied? If you return it, find out who pays the shipping costs or restocking fees. A Federal Trade Commission rule requires sellers to ship items as promised or within 30 days after the order date if no specific date is promised. • Keep a paper trail. Print and save records of your online transactions, including the product description and price, the online receipt, and copies of every email you send or receive from the seller. Read your credit card statements as you receive them and be on the lookout for unauthorized charges. • Check the privacy policy. It should let you know what personal information the website operators are collecting, why, and how they’re going to use the information. If you can’t find a privacy policy – or if you can’t understand it – consider taking your business to another site that’s more consumer-friendly.
Newspaper Activities Find articles about Internet frauds. Summarize the story by identifying the 5W’s and the H (who, what, when, where, why & how) of the story. Then read commentaries in the newspaper. Using them as examples, write a brief commentary suggesting ways to stop this type of crime and how perpetrators should be punished. Find positive stories about use of the Internet by the government, non-profits or other organizations. How was the Internet used? What were the positive results? Look at ads in the newspaper. Do most companies now have web addresses in their ads? What might be the reasons for them to display their URL? How might that help you as a consumer? Find stories about social networking sites, chat rooms, or other Internet stories featuring young people. What are the issues being addressed? Are there concerns or bad outcomes because of how the Internet what used? Are there lessons to be learned about Internet safety, what are they?