I love finding deals on the Internet. But for every legit deal out there, there are just as many shady businesses try to make a buck selling substandard goods and passing them off as high quality merchandise. Or worse, they could be scam companies that take your money, then leave you with nothing.
So how do you determine which deals are actually worth your money? Next time you're thinking of dealing with a company, make sure to check out sites that list scams and shady businesses:
- Consumerist is a blog devoted to listing scams, as well as providing information on tips for keeping your money secure.
- The Better Business Bureau is a great resource for checking up on businesses. Also, you can file complaints if you are treated unfairly when dealing with a company.
- The Federal Trade Commission can help you learn your consumer rights, and let you know what to look for when making a purchase with an unfamiliar company.
It’s always a good idea to protect yourself, lest you become one of the unfortunate people that get ripped off every year. Let us know if there are any sites you go to when looking out for scams or shady businesses.
--Cody
Photo taken from this photostream and used with permission of a Creative Commons license.
Great resources, Cody. I strongly support protecting yourself against being scammed. I can't say that I visit any particular site when checking out a company, however, I will do a web search on the company that I am interested in and read blog postings about it.
Another tip for buying on the internet is to have one low limit credit card that is devoted to only online purchases. Of course, if you regularly buy high priced items online this won't work, but a low limit restricts the amount of damage that someone could do with your card. Plus, if you need to cancel the card you would have another card that could still be used.
- j
Thanks for the tip Jessica.
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