COLUMBUS, Ohio (WKBN) – Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost provided tips for consumers to avoid potential scams during the holiday shopping season.
In a press release Tuesday, Yost made the following recommendations for consumers:
- Research sellers carefully. Search for complaints filed with the Ohio Attorney General’s Office and the Better Business Bureau. Also, look up online customer reviews about the seller.
- Beware of scams. Watch for phony coupons. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Be wary if someone asks you to pay using gift cards or wire transfers; both are commonly requested by scam artists.
- Check return policies. In Ohio, sellers can set their own return policies, including policies of “no returns,” but any retailer whose policy limits your ability to obtain a refund must clearly notify you of that policy before you complete the purchase. Be sure to check return periods, which might change during the holidays.
- Look for exclusions and limitations in ads. Important exclusions and limitations should be clearly disclosed. Check to see whether an offer is valid only during certain hours, only limited quantities are available, or other terms and conditions apply. If a seller advertises a product at a certain price but sells out by the time you respond to the ad, you may have the right to a rain check. However, sellers are not required to provide rain checks if they clearly disclose the number of goods available at that price…
