Shop On Line? Beware of Scams!
Okay, so the shopping days left until Christmas and Hanukkah are dwindling. You haven’t gotten half of what you need to get done finished yet! The malls are crammed, the weather turns lousy just at the time you want to go shopping and between the cost of gasoline and parking … well, it just seems easier to stay inside and hit the computer for some get-‘er-done time on the internet.
If you decide to do your holiday shopping on-line instead of standing in line at your local department store beware of the criminal element you might encounter.
Those designer sunglasses for 60% off? The NBA jerseys or golf equipment for half price? Popular Ugg brand boots, Louis Vuitton handbags or Hollywood movie box sets at deep discounts? Realize that they could very well be counterfeit or pirated products.
Besides your chance of getting a second-rate product, you might also plunk down your credit card and be charged for items you never receive.
Not Every Bargain On-Line Is Worth It
When you run across these so-called “bargains” on line it’s the perfect time to repeat to yourself that old saying, “If it seems too good to be true it probably is.”
Federal agents at the FBI and Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) have been actively tracking illegal internet activity since June of 2010 and have shut down hundreds of these illegitimate sites. On the so-called “Cyber Monday” after this year’s Thanksgiving holiday – which has become the traditional day for rolling out massive internet shopping deals – the feds announced they had pulled the plug on 150 more of them.
After making a series of undercover buys from the suspect spots and determining the products were not the real thing the agencies slapped a big old banner up on each site informing shoppers the domain had been seized by authorities and its operators were under investigation for violation of federal laws.
The Feds Vow to Keep Rooting Out On-Line Fraud
We don’t know yet just how much credit card fraud has occurred over the life of this federal effort or how much revenue the manufacturers of the genuine products have lost due to this illegal activity. But, get this – after the sites were transferred into federal custody agents counted at least 77 million hits from would-be purchasers. Millions more people could have been scammed.
“More and more Americans are doing their holiday shopping online, and they may not realize that purchasing counterfeit goods results in American jobs lost, stolen American business profits and American consumers receiving substandard products,” ICE Director John Morton said.
Crime Lurks In Your Computer
So far the feds have put some 350 illicit sites out of business since Operation in Our Sites went into effect. But the elephant in the room no one talks about is that 350 out of the gazillion internet sites out there is really just a half a drop in the bucket. Those seized sites were probably quickly replaced by new ones. Authorities say many of the illicit domains are registered to thieves based in China.
Internet crimes often take away law enforcements ability to make quick face-to-face arrests.
You may still think it is worthwhile to take the risk to try to get a bargain gift to impress your unwitting friends and family but here’s one more reason not to feed this illegal beast.
Director Morton says his agents have come to believe that, “The illicit profits made from these types of illegal ventures often fuel other kinds of organized crime.”
ICE Director John Morton
So, this isn’t like buying something from the street vendor downtown that you may have questions about. (“Gee, is this DVD the real movie or when I play it at home will I see a bad copy made with a hand held video camera in a theatre?”) Internet piracy and counterfeiting is now a worldwide, untold millions of dollar business designed to rake in money to finance even more crimes against us.
Don’t fall for it, folks. Stick to the web sites of businesses that you know and trust or those for which you’ve gotten a word-of-mouth seal of approval. And, my advice is to ignore those little box ads in the side margin of web sites that promise, “The lowest prices ever – guaranteed! Click here.”
Was It Real or a Phony Product?
I once ordered some of that expensive flea and tick medicine for my two cats through one of those bargain-basement ads. Although my credit card was charged right away it took weeks and weeks for the product to arrive and when it did I noticed it came from the U.K.. Now I wonder if I dosed my cats with something worthless – or worse – something dangerous.
Look, I know the mall isn’t fun this time of year. So, maybe the mom and pop craft shop on the corner featuring products made in the U.S.A. or a gift handmade by you would fit the bill this year.
If that’s not an option, if the internet is your only viable shopping avenue then repeat after me, “If it seems too good to be true ….” Well, you know the rest.
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Facebook Friend Bill Voinovich writes:
” I NEVER go for any of that stuff….
If I want to find something, I’ll look for it….
Really hard to trust ANYTHING you go after online….”
FAcebook Friend Christa Maria writes:
“So true – will share w/other’s who may not be aware… ty, Diane !!”
Facebook Friend Diane LaBella Palen writes:
“They ain’t getting anything from this old lady. I don’t do any ordering or fall for anything not sure of on line…afraid of indentity theft…
Facebook Friend Morgan Roebuck writes:
“My iPad should be here from Nigeria any day now!”
Let’s face the facts, corporate America has for years ruined the true meaning of what Christmas should be about by making it more materialistic as each year passes. I grew up in a lower middle class income family and the main ingredients in our Christmas holidays was great food and love of family and friends. We never had very materialistic holidays and always had just as much fun as those who did feast on lavish gifts. Perhaps if we all could put the true spirit of
Christmas into the holidays then you would not have to write such an article. In a world where technology is striving to make our lives easier, not necessarily better, encouraging us to multitask every portion of our lives, hurry up and move on to the next project, could it be we are just feeding on everything that is being placed before us.
As a retiree, I often have my days and nights mixed up and as a result watch television at all hours of the day. I grew so agitated at some of the advertising through misleading information and outright product deception for items like a herpes cure, free money, sexual aids, miracle weight loss, etc., that I complained in writing to my elected representatives. I got the answer I expected mentioning 1st amendment rights protection to the marketing companies. When you mention a federal agency trying to protect us from internet scams, a number of Americans don’t have much faith in the government protecting us from anything. Your last line hit the mark, if it seems to good to be true, it probably ain’t true. Depend on your own good judgement to make purchases and then if you get taken in a scam, go look in the mirror and complain to the image you see there.
Huffington Post Reader Jay Gould writes:
“When it comes to shopping online, you should never click on a link in any unsolicited email that promises one unbelievable kind of deal or another. Instead, do a search yourself for whatever it is you are looking for and compare the offers you see. Once you are satisfied with one of them, see if you can find any customer testimonials about this merchant and go over a few of them. Also, it is a good idea to use a credit card for payment, because you are fully protected against fraud, should the merchant happen to be a fraudulent one anyway.”
Huffington Post Reader gutenmorgen writes:
“The one 50% cut of dinnerware we went after was not only true but also terrific.”
If only all of America would make sure what they are buying was made in america , I believe our Country could get back to our independence,as well as making sure what they are buying is a legit company here .