As Black Friday approaches, kicking off the time for Holiday shopping, Attorney General Pam Bondi is releasing the 2017 Holiday Consumer Protection Guide This helpful guide provides product safety information and tips to help consumers enjoy a safer and more satisfying holiday shopping experience.
“As Floridians prepare their holiday shopping lists, they should also take steps to protect their financial information and guard against scams,” said Attorney General Bondi. “The 2017 Holiday Consumer Protection Guide is full of tips to help shoppers avoid identity theft and scams. It also includes safety information about children’s gifts, so parents can do their research before Black Friday and Cyber Monday.”
In the guide, consumers can find online purchasing tips and advice for avoiding charity scams. Additionally, the guide includes a list of items recalled by the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission in the past year, specifically focusing on children’s toys and items that pose a particular risk to kids and teens.
The holidays are a time to be especially mindful of ways purchases can cost more than expected. As online shopping is now many consumers’ preferred way to shop, here are some tips from the guide for protecting financial information when purchasing online:
- Pay with a credit card rather than a debit card;
- Ensure the browser is using a secure connection;
- Contact debit and credit card account providers to see if the providers offer one-time card numbers to be used for online transactions; and
- Keep receipts and be sure to understand retailers’ return policies and periods so consumers can return any unwanted items in a timely manner and get a full refund.
If a consumer has any questions on product recalls or any other issues discussed in this guide, contact Attorney General Bondi’s Citizens Services hotline at 866-9-NO-SCAM or visit MyFloridaLegal.com.
To read Attorney General Bondi’s 2017 Holiday Consumer Protection Guide, click here.
