Sometimes braving the internet seems a lot more reasonable than braving the crowds when it comes to holiday shopping.
But before you whip out that credit card to get all the gifts on your shopping list, here are some recommendations from the Federal Trade Commission to help protect yourself while online shopping:
The FTC warns before you make any big purchases, take a hard look at the seller.
If it's not a website you've been on before, search for reviews of the company or the item you're buying. Keywords to search with the item or site: review, complaint or scam.
The FTC also warns of phishing scams ahead of Cyber Monday. With an email littered with deals that seem too good to be true, be wary of embedded links. Always good to search the company and its web address before you go clicking away.
As you're about to checkout, be sure to check two things:
The return policy, so you won't have a hassle on your hands if the purchase doesn't work out.
And the URL: before you put your credit card number in, make sure it's a secure site. Look for the "s" at the end of that http.
Good luck and happy shopping!
