A Free Public Service

SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is an inactive attorney in San Mateo County, California.

February 5, 2024

VALENTINE SCAMS

Attribution: US Federal Trade Commission

A quick online shopping scroll shows tons of exciting Valentine’s gifts for those you love. If you order now, many sellers guarantee delivery on or before Valentine’s Day. But what happens when your order doesn’t arrive by that guaranteed date?

 As a customer, you have rights. Here’s what to know. 

By law, sellers must ship your order within the time they say they’ll ship. If they don’t give a specific time, your order must ship within 30 days. When shipping will be delayed, the seller has to let you know about it. Sellers also have to give you the choice to either accept the delay or cancel your order for a full refund.

Before you shop online:

*Research the seller first. Search the company online, especially if you haven’t shopped with the company before. Look up the company’s name, plus words like “review,” “complaint,” or “scam” and see what other people say.

*Read the seller’s refund and return policies carefully. Sellers often have different refund and return policies, and dishonest sellers will use tricky disclosures and fine print to deny refund requests.

*Use a credit card for online purchases, if possible. Credit cards offer the most protection against fraud compared to other types of payments including the right to dispute charges if there are problems with your purchase.

*Save your receipts and confirmation emails. If something goes wrong, these can help you get your money back from the seller or file a dispute with your credit card company.

If you think you were scammed through an online shopping experience, report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

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