Wisconsin Consumers Urged to Exercise Caution During Holiday Shopping Season
GREEN BAY, Wis.(WBAY) - Wiht the holiday shopping season in full swing, Wisconsin consumer protection officials are advising residents to be vigilant against online scams and fraudulent websites.
Michelle Reinen, administrator of Wisconsin’s Division of Consumer Protection, warns that scammers are increasingly creating highly realistic imitations of legitimate online retailers. “These copies are designed to look and feel like the trusted platforms consumers use daily,” she stated.
Spotting Fake Shopping Sites
Experts recommend carefully scrutinizing website addresses before entering any personal or financial data. Consumers should also be wary of suspiciously low prices, especially on high-demand items that are arduous to find elsewhere. Be cautious when encountering deals through pop-up advertisements, social media posts, or unfamiliar third-party marketplaces. Question the authenticity of brand-name products offered at significantly discounted rates.
Protecting Your Payments
Wisconsin Consumer Protection strongly advises using a credit card for online purchases rather than a debit card or cash.Credit cards generally offer greater fraud protection.
To further safeguard financial accounts, consumers can explore the option of using virtual credit card numbers.These numbers, provided by some credit card companies, are uniquely generated for each transaction. This protects your actual credit card number from exposure and allows for tracking if compromised,without jeopardizing your entire account.
Consumers are encouraged to contact their credit card provider to inquire about the availability of virtual card numbers. While primarily intended for online use, virtual cards can also be utilized in stores accepting digital wallet transactions.
Online shopping consistently ranks among the top sources of consumer complaints both in Wisconsin and across the nation. To protect yourself, retain copies of all receipts and maintain records of all communication with the retailer.
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