When shopping online, the Grinch could pop up and ruin everything

Not to be the Grinch that steals Christmas, but there are dangers we should keep in mind as we go merrily down the online Jingle Bell lane.

’Tis the season when Santa checks his naughty and nice list, then tells his elves what gifts to load in the sleigh. You had better be nice to the elves, because they are the ones that do all the shopping, er, I mean creating.

We know the elves will be using computers and smartphones to order gifts this holiday season, but you also need to beware of the unpleasant Grinch. This scammer is everywhere, selling knock-off and counterfeit products.

“Online purchase scams ranked among the riskiest scams for the past three consecutive years,” according to the Better Business Bureau Scam Tracker. “An increased online presence meant more opportunity for scammers to target consumers as they shop online. Data from a Better Business Bureau study shows that nearly 40 percent of Scam Tracker reports were about online purchase scams, and more than 80 percent of consumers reporting these scams lost money.”

The COVID pandemic has shifted e-commerce in 2020, maybe more than any other time in history, Forbes reports. “Traditional retail sales have declined, but e-commerce has seen a 129 percent year-over-year growth in U.S. and Canadian orders as of April 21st, with an impressive 146 percent growth in all online retail orders.”

Online purchases have accelerated the regular growth by four to six years, according to Forbes, and it does not look like growth is going to slow down any time soon.

Buyer beware

When visiting a website, you may be inclined to think the products for sale are legit – but maybe not. Here are a few tips to help you stay out of the Grinch’s clutches.

Avoid pop-ups and quick sale offers. Take your time to examine the offer and do not be anxious to buy. This is especially true with big sites like Amazon and Alibaba, where knock-offs are prevalent. Be sure the product is genuine and not just an amazing price.

The main thing to remember is that scammers cheat, lie and steal. That product may look like the real deal, but it could be a knock-off. Some sellers, like Microsoft, rarely discount so that $29.99 offer for Office is not real.

Go into a trusted store, check out the item of interest and write down the barcode number. Make use of that number when checking or comparing prices online. Local shops may be willing to offer assistance, price concessions or, more importantly, support for the product you want – especially if its computer related.

From the engineers at ComputersUSA, we thank you for your local support.

Happy holidays, everyone. Stay safe and healthy.

William Claney is an independent tech writer and former owner of Computers USA in the Clayton Station. Email questions or comments to willclaney@gmail.com.