Commissioner Nikki Fried and FDACS Share Tips to Help Consumers Safely Shop Online This Holiday Season

Tallahassee, Fla. – As consumers take advantage of online shopping over the holidays, Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) are sharing tips on how to keep your data secure and save money when shopping online.

“Online shopping is becoming increasingly popular – especially in the time of COVID-19,” said Commissioner Fried. “While online shopping has its benefits, consumers need to be on the lookout for bad actors who may try to take advantage of this trend. These simple steps can help avoid additional stress of falling victim to fraudulent activity, phony deals, or having your personal or financial information compromised.”

Before you click “Place Order,” follow these tips on how to keep your data secure and save money as you shop:

• Verify the site is secure. Before you enter your payment information, verify that the website address begins with “https.” The “s” stands for “secure” and means that your information is encrypted before it is transmitted.
• Decide how to pay. Credit cards give you some protections that other payment methods may not. If there is a problem, the law allows you to dispute charges and temporarily withhold payment while your dispute is investigated. Some companies cap your liability at $50 if someone uses your card without your authorization. Others may waive the charges entirely.
• Plan ahead by setting a budget. Ask yourself how much you should spend and be sure to include delivery costs in your budget.
• Determine what is most important to you about the item you are buying. What are the must have features versus the ones that would just be nice to have?
• Take a few minutes to compare products. Type the product name into a search engine along with words like “review,” “complaint,” or “scam.” Read online reviews from other people who bought the item or from product experts. Look for feedback about how the product works and its overall quality.
• Look for reviews about the company selling the product. Read information about the company’s reputation and customer service. Don’t rely on just one source for information.
• Verify the total cost of the product. Check shopping comparison sites to compare the price of the product at different shopping sites. Remember shipping costs and other add-on costs may not be included in the listed price.
• Look for online coupon codes. Search the retailers name with terms like “coupons,” “discounts,” or “free shipping.”
• Check out the terms of the deal. Verify when you will receive your order. The law requires sellers to ship the item within 30 days of the sale. Can you get a refund if you must return the item, and who pays the shipping for returns? Is there a restocking fee?

If you have a problem with an online purchase or charge, first try to resolve the issue directly with the seller. If unable to come to a resolution, file a complaint at www.FloridaConsumerHelp.com or call 1-800-HELP-FLA or 1-800-FL-AYUDA (for Spanish speakers).

About FDACS and the Division of Consumer Services: FDACS is the state’s clearinghouse for consumer complaints, information, and protection. FDACS handles more than 400,000 consumer complaints and inquiries, oversees more than 500,000 regulated devices, entities, and products like gas pumps and grocery scales, performs over 61,000 lab analyses on products like gasoline and brake fluid, performs nearly 9,000 fair ride inspections, and returned over $2.8 million to consumers through mediations with businesses.

Spanish Version

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