Another tip in a series provided by the Offices of Information Security, Information Systems & Computing and Audit, Compliance & Privacy

Now that Thanksgiving is over, holiday gift purchasing is beginning in earnest. Keep the following in mind to make your shopping scam-free:

1. Do not make purchases from unfamiliar websites. Just because a website advertises on social media does not mean it is legitimate.
2. Check prices. A rock-bottom price for a hot item might not be legitimate. If it sounds too good to be true, it likely is.
3. If you are buying used or vintage, make sure you know the condition of what you are buying, and check that it is documented in the listing.
4. Ensure you understand the store’s purchase, shipping, and return policies. When buying from an auction or marketplace site, purchase using the method suggested by the platform to avoid problems. For example, are there restocking fees for returns? Do you pay shipping fees to return an item? What documentation or packaging do you need to return something? How are complaints or concerns handled?
5. Make holiday purchases using a credit card instead of a debit card or payment apps. Debit cards take money directly from your bank account, so it might take a while to get your money back in a dispute. Payment apps may be irreversible in some instances. Some credit cards offer extended warranties or price protections.

This holiday season, make sure you get the gifts without getting scammed.

For additional tips, see the One Step Ahead link on the Information Security website: https://www.isc.upenn.edu/security/news-alerts#One-Step-Ahead.