Attorney General Moody released the 2024 Holiday Consumer Protection Guide for Floridians which contains information about scammers, shopping schemes, and cyber scams. The guide also contains a list of dangerous recalled items.
It has important information on keeping your money safe this holiday season.
“The guide offers an array of information on how to safely navigate seasonal sales — whether that be online, from the comfort of your home, or in stores," Moody said at the beginning of the guide. “In addition to shopping tips, the guide provides information about the safest ways to donate to charities.”
- When shopping online it’s smart to pay with a credit card instead of a debit card if possible. Both payment methods allow you to dispute a charge if the product never arrives or isn’t what you ordered, but with a debit card, the purchase is already deducted from your bank account and may take days or even weeks for the charge to be reversed.
- When shopping online make sure the web browser has a secure connection before submitting payment information. In the address bar a padlock should appear along with the letters h-t-t-p-s signifying that your connection is secure.
- Remember to keep your receipts, and make sure you understand return policies and periods so that you can return any unwanted items for a full refund.
- Some retailers offer layaway plans or other payment options to allow customers to pay in installments or at a later date. However before you agree to a plan be sure to ask whether or not the retailer charges a fee for its program and whether payments or any fees are refundable if the purchase is canceled or returned.
- When purchasing gift cards check to see if there is an additional activation fee and provide the activation receipt to the recipient. Also, consider the retailer’s financial situation before buying a gift card.
- If you are shopping with a new retailer check with the Better Business Bureau to see if other customers have filed complaints against them.
For more tips and information, access the full 2024 Holiday Consumer Protection Guide here.
For a complete list of all product recalls, visit CPSC.gov.
To report a scam, visit MyFloridaLegal.com or call 1-866-9NO-SCAM.