FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: NYS Consumer Protection Board
Phone: 518-486-4852
Fax: 518-474-2474
Agency Twitter: @NYSConsumer

DATE: December 16, 2009

Last-Minute Holiday Shopping Alert Issued by the NYS Consumer Protection
Board

- Following the CPB?s Tips May Help Avoid Missing Important Safety Details
or
Falling Victim to Scammers -

With the final days of the holiday shopping season fast approaching, the
New York State Consumer Protection Board (CPB) today issued a ?wrap up?
safety and purchasing alert for last-minute shoppers.

?Consumers should not let the pressure of a tight schedule cloud their
judgment when making last-minutes purchases,? said CPB Chairperson and
Executive Director Mindy A. Bockstein. ?It is important for consumers to
remain vigilant about the transactions they conduct; the security of their
personal financial information; the reliability of the product source;
and, the safety of the gifts being purchased.?

The CPB reminds last-minute shoppers to keep the following financial and
product safety tips in mind:

Safety:

Read labels of children?s products to ensure they are age-appropriate.
Watch out for toys with sharp objects and small parts, especially for
young children.
Make sure items purchased have not been recalled. Recalls can be checked
on the CPB?s website at www.nysconsumer.gov and at www.recalls.gov.
Watch out for children?s apparel with drawstrings on the neck or waist.
More information is available at:
http://www.nysconsumer.gov/pdf/drawstring_tip_sheet.pdf.

Transactions:

Do not purchase gift cards or enter into any contract for services without
understanding the terms and conditions including any applicable fees.
Carefully select the retailer with whom you plan on conducting business by
first conducting some research which may include checking their reputation
with the Consumer Protection Board and the Better Business Bureau.
Compare prices and availability for specific items at stores.
Ensure product packaging is secure and has not been tampered with before
purchasing an item.
Understand the terms of any product warranty before deciding on an
extended service plan.
Be aware of shipping and handling, return, refund and rebate policies of
the retailer.
Watch out for any added shipping or handling costs for items to be
delivered on time. .
Make sure you retain all purchase receipts.

Online:

Make sure your internet connection and the website on which you plan to
purchase is secure looking for the prefix ?https? before the URL.
Check for feedback about sellers on auction sites before conducting
business. Avoid questionable sellers and odd listings.
Follow the CPB?s Savvy and Safe Online Shopping Tips, available at:
http://www.nysconsumer.gov/pdf/savvy_online_shopping.pdf.
Be wary of unsolicited e-mails offering last minute deals and refrain from
clicking on links within these e-mails. Legitimate-looking e-mails
containing logos, pictures, copyrights or names of legitimate businesses
may be used by scammers to steal your personal information. Go to the
merchants? official website to verify if the offer is legitimate.
Note any special deadlines for delivery in time for the holiday you
celebrate.

Online Gift Cards Purchasing:

Buy from reliable sources. Carefully choose the online websites from which
you purchase a gift card and avoid discount auction websites.
Look at the ratings of gift card vendors and check whether the vendor
guarantees the card?s balance.
Make purchases only on secure websites. . These websites will have a URL
that begins with ?https.?
Understand restrictions that many affect the use of the gift card. For
example, if the card can be used online and/or in a store.
Check whether the card expires.
Print out the receipt and purchase confirmation for your records.
Be aware of the replacement policy in case the gift card verification
number is lost or stolen.
Check for purchase fees; ?dormancy or non-use fees? (charges for not using
the card within a certain time period); renewal and balance fees and other
fees assessed on the card.
Check if an online retailer is in financial difficulty and may be closing
before purchasing a gift card.

The CPB has additional shopping tips available at www.nysconsumer.gov.

The CPB, established in 1970 by the New York State Legislature, is the
State's top consumer watchdog and think tank. The CPB's core mission is to
protect New Yorkers by publicizing unscrupulous and questionable business
practices and product recalls; conducting investigations and hearings;
enforcing the Do Not Call law; researching issues; developing legislation;
creating consumer education programs and materials; responding to
individual marketplace complaints by securing voluntary agreements; and,
representing the interests of consumers before the Public Service
Commission and other State and federal agencies.
- 30 -

To file a consumer complaint with the NYS Consumer Protection Board (CPB),
call our toll-free hotline at 1-800-697-1220 or visit the CPB?s website at
www.nysconsumer.gov. In addition to the online complaint form, the website
is home to important consumer safety information and resource.

Jorge

Jorge I. Montalvo
Director of Strategic and Virtual Consumer Programming
NYS Consumer Protection Board
Ph: +1 (518) 486-3703
Twitter: @jorgeimontalvo

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