October is the season for ghosts, goblins and ghouls. Unfortunately, they’re not all friendly like Casper nor are they like neighborhood kids ringing your doorbell in search of treats. Instead, you need to be on the alert for those who will play tricks on you while you’re playing, doing business or shopping online.

Because October is National Cybersecurity Month, this is a good time to bone up on cyber precautions, whether you’re new to the online community or you’ve been surfing and working online for years.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, for example, suggests approaching computers and the Internet in the same way we urge children to approach the real world.

For example:

Don’t trust candy from strangers. Finding something on the Internet does not always make it true or good for you. Anyone can publish information online. So before accepting the statement or advertisement as fact, verify that the source is reliable and if it’s a business, check it out first with the Better Business Bureau of Southern Arizona by visiting, www.tucson.bbb.org. Because many scam artists “spoof” email addresses to appear that they’re coming from your financial institution or an online payment service, you should be wary of any email requesting that you verify account information. And never ever open attachments or respond to requests for personal or financial information from someone you don’t know.

Don’t be tricked into falling for an offer that is too good to be true. Many emails promise outlandish rewards or monetary gifts in the millions of dollars. They might state you’ve won a sweepstakes or that a rich businessman in a war-torn country left millions in a foreign bank with no (more…)

As Halloween costume season is driving demand for online retailers, BBB has issued an F rating to Kingdom Swords for failing to respond to 61 recent consumer disputes. Kingdom Swords is a San Antonio-based retailer that sells replica swords and other weaponry (modeled after items in movies, TV, and video games) to consumers nationwide through its website, http://www.swblades.com/.

Consumer disputes filed with BBB allege that replica products ordered online were delayed or not delivered at all. Consumers further allege they have had difficulty contacting the company by phone, email or mail to inquire about the status of their orders. Requests for refunds have been unanswered.

BBB currently reports that the company has not responded to 61 out of 72 total complaints received in the past 36 months. BBB contacted Kingdom Swords regarding these unanswered disputes in August 2010. The company has not yet responded.

Kingdom Swords is also conducting business under the following alternate names: RDSC, Red Dragon Sword Company, Southwest Blades, Sword Dude Enterprises, Swords of Cinema and Swordcorp. For more details, visit the company’s BBB Business Review here.

BBB advises consumers to consider the following advice before purchasing a product online:

· Start With Trust - Shoppers should stop by bbb.org to check on the seller’s reputation and record for customer satisfaction. You can look for (more…)

As jack-o-lanterns and witches crop up on lawns and doorsteps, children and adults may be looking for bargains on costumes to wear for Halloween, the second largest commercial holiday in the nation.

Better Business Bureau advises caution when shopping with seasonal stores and fly-by-night websites for costumes and other merchandise. Complaints about late delivery, poor quality and difficulty obtaining refunds are common at BBB. In the last year, BBB has issued three news warnings on companies that sell human and animal costumes online.

“A costume may look cute, but it pays to check into a site’s reputation and consider return policies and shipping schedules before placing an order,” said Kim States, BBB President. “Otherwise, you could find yourself waiting for the costume to arrive or disputing a charge on your credit card when you’d rather be getting ready for Halloween.”

BBB offers these tips to help you avoid being haunted after Halloween is over:

• Location. If you’re interested in trying a new or unfamiliar online merchant, ask the company for its physical location (address and phone number) so you can check its Reliability Report with BBB at www.tucson.bbb.org.
• Customer satisfaction policy. Determine the company’s refund and return policies before you buy. If online companies can’t offer concrete commitments on how they will handle any potential problems you may have with their products or services, reconsider doing business with them.
• Leave nothing to chance. Be sure you have a thorough understanding of everything involved before making an order. Be clear on the price and any shipping and handling charges. Know the terms of any product or service guarantees. Find out how long it will be before you receive your (more…)