Online shoppers are being cautioned to watch out for fraudulent websites as the busy holiday season picks up speed.
The Better Business Bureau sent out a warning on Thursday about swindlers specifically targeting Overstock.com, a popular retail website. They are creating strikingly similar domain names in an attempt to deceive online shoppers into handing over their money.
BBB suggests visiting www.bbb.org to look up the BBB reviews of online retailers.
Other tips for safe online shopping include:
l Type the URL directly into the browser. Do not click on a link from an email or social media site unless you are absolutely sure the message is from the legitimate business.
l On the payment page, look for “https” at the beginning of the address (the “s” stands for “secure”).
l Look for Contact Us information including a real address, a toll-free customer service number and other ways to reach the company if you have a problem.
l BBB also suggests using a credit card (not a debit card) when shopping online for greater protection against possible fraud.
l If a website has a BBB Accredited Business seal, click on it. A real seal should link directly to that company’s BBB Business Review at bbb.org.