Holiday Gift-Buying: Avoiding Scams

Written by Lara Kinkartz on 02/12/09

Photo by Steve Wampler on Flickr

With the holidays fast approaching, it seems everyone is going into gift-buying mode. For the first time last holiday season, I did most of my shopping online, and it made the whole experience a breeze. I didn’t have to worry about crowded shopping malls or running from store to store to compare prices. This year, I plan to do most of my shopping online again, and it seems I’m not alone in discovering the benefits of making purchases over the Internet: more Canadians than ever before are now shopping online (Statistics Canada).

Unfortunately, as the Internet has become more popular, the number of online scams has increased exponentially. Just as you take precautions if you’re shopping in a real store (by protecting your PIN, not leaving your purse unattended, etc.), you need to take certain steps to protect yourself if you’re shopping online. Visit the DEAL.org Knowzone fact sheet on online scams and fraud to get tips about how to shop online safely.

Links

DEAL.org Knowzone: Online Scams and Fraud
Scam Protection: A Student Practical Guide
SonicWALL Phishing and Spam Online Quiz
Online Fraud Quiz
RCMP: Scams and Fraud
Better Business Bureau Canada
Statistics Canada: E-commerce
ScamBusters.org: Online Holiday Shopping
ScamBusters.org: 7 New Tips for Safe Online Holiday Shopping
RECOL (Reporting Economic Crime Online)