November 26, 2024

Regulators Remind Consumers to Take Precautions to Avoid Scams While Shopping Online

HARTFORD, CT – The holiday season is upon us, and with Black Friday deals already in full swing in stores and Cyber Monday approaching, the Department of Banking and the Department of Consumer Protection are reminding consumers to be on guard to avoid common scams while shopping online.

“Shopping online is a convenient way to purchase holiday gifts and provides endless options beyond what you can find in stores.  Before providing your credit card information, however, it is vital that you take steps to ensure your information is protected,” said Banking Commissioner Jorge Perez.  “Research any online company that you are not familiar with, beware of deals that seem too good to be true, and always ensure your phone or device are properly secure.  Just a few steps can help make your holiday shopping a little less stressful, and your holiday season a little brighter.”

“Online shopping has become the go-to method for holiday shoppers. Unfortunately, it is also a common time for scammers to trick shoppers as they browse online,” said DCP Commissioner Bryan T. Cafferelli. “We want to remind consumers to take their time, do your research on any unfamiliar websites, and don’t click on pop-up ads offering a good deal. If it seems to be too good to be true, it probably is.”

Review these tips to avoid fraud and shopping scams this holiday shopping season:

• Beware of deals that are too good to be true – Be leery if you find a great deal on an item that cannot be found on other sites.  Before making a purchase, type the company's name into a search engine with terms like “review,” “complaint,” or “scam.”  Always stick to reputable sites.
• Avoid phishing emails or text messages - Question any unsolicited emails or text messages that direct you to click links. Texts from strange phone numbers or emails from unknown email addresses are sure signs of scams.
• Don’t make purchases through social media ads - Many of these ads are “look-alike” sites that impersonate legitimate retailers.  Your best bet is to open a separate, secure browser and find that retailer’s website yourself. 
• Check the URL - Make sure the website uses encryption to protect your information during your transaction. Look for https at the beginning of the URL. The ‘s’ after http means the site is encrypted. 
• Use a credit card for online purchases - Under federal law, you may dispute unauthorized charges to your credit card in writing, and you are only responsible for unauthorized charges to $50. 
• Check your credit card and bank statements - If you discover any charges you did not make, contact your financial institution immediately. 
• Review the return policy - Before you make any purchases, check the refund and return policies, the item’s availability, and the total cost before you place your order.
• Keep records - Keep your order confirmation, receipt, tracking number, as well as all email, text messages, or other communications you have with the company.

Additionally, ensure your device is secure:

• Keep your software up to date.  Install all software updates, including security patches that protect your device from malware.  
• Use strong passwords and multi-factor authentication. Multi-factor authentication adds an additional layer of security.
• Avoid using public networks or free Wi-Fi for online purchases.

For questions or concerns regarding financial scams or fraud, you may contact the Department of Banking’s Consumer Affairs Division, at 860-240-8170 or banking.complaints@ct.gov or file online at ct.gov/dob. 

If you believe you’ve fallen victim to a scam, purchased a product that was misrepresented, or have done business with someone who didn’t fulfill their contract, you may file a complaint with the Department of Consumer Protection by emailing dcp.complaints@ct.gov or file online at ct.gov/dcp.

Department of Banking Media Contacts

Kathleen Titsworth
kathleen.titsworth@ct.gov 
(860) 240-8176 (office)

Matt Smith
matthew.smith@ct.gov
203-996-1241 (cell)

Department of Consumer Protection Media Contact

Kaitlyn Krasselt
kaitlyn.krasselt@ct.gov
(860) 713-6019 (office)
(860) 377-0246 (cell)