RALEIGH, NC, December 13, 2009
/24-7PressRelease/ -- Better Business Bureau serving Eastern North Carolina (www.bbb.org) warns consumers to beware of pop-ups they receive after making purchases online. The pop-ups are known as post transaction marketing and are technically legal, but deceptive and even harmful to consumers.
The pop-up includes a coupon or promotional discount that opens in a new window after a consumer makes an online transaction on reliable sites including Amazon, eTix, and Pizza Hut. Consumers who have received the pop-up believe that they are receiving the discount from the Web site they sought-out. However, the discount is offered by a third-party marketing firm that pays a commission to sites for each consumer they enroll in the program through the sites.
Reputable e-commerce companies that many consumers will purchase from this holiday season are partnering with these unknown marketing firms that enroll unsuspecting consumers in fee-based buying clubs. The payment information that consumers enter when making their purchases on sites is shared with the marketing firms. Consumers receive the pop-up promotion after entering payment information on reputable sites, and without proactively entering information in the new windows, they are subscribed unknowingly. A month or two later, the consumers begin to see charges on their account for recurring payments from $10-$20.
"We have seen buying clubs take advantage of consumers after other purchases, including 'As seen on TV' items," said Beverly Baskin, President & CEO of BBB serving Eastern NC. "This is another unfortunate scheme where the consumer is taken advantage of unknowingly, and a good reminder to make sure you know what you are clicking following any transactions that involve personal, financial information."
BBB reminds consumers to stay aware when making any transactions online and regularly check credit card statements to confirm purchases and avoid unauthorized charges.
BBB also reminds consumers of the most frequent online scams around the holidays:
o Holiday eCards: Be extremely cautious when viewing eCards. In the past, scammers have created fake e-mail notices that claim generically that a "friend" or "family member" has sent them a card. In some cases, victims have clicked on a link that has installed a virus on their computer or their computer caught the virus when the victims installed supposed software needed to view the e-card.
o Online Auction Sites: When bidding online for holiday gifts, always do your research. Compare the cost of the item you are buying to other stores, research the seller's record, and ask plenty of questions to understand your item and the transaction. When you decide on an item to purchase, make sure you are using a secure form of payment such as PayPal. Never wire cash payments to someone you don't know.
o Bank Phishing: Be wary of emails from retailers, banks or shipping businesses. If you receive an e-mail from your bank, retailer or a shipping company claiming that there is a problem with your account or delivery, do not click on any links in the email or reply with any information. Instead contact the business directly to confirm the issue.
o Charity Scams: Research a charity to understand where your money is going. Don't give money on the spot, either on the phone or by allowing a "runner" to pick up the contribution. Any legiti¬mate nonprofit that needs your money today will welcome it just as much tomorrow.
For more advice on keeping your identity safe over the holidays, visit http://www.bbb.org.
About the BBB serving Eastern North Carolina:
The Better Business Bureau serving Eastern North Carolina is a 501 (c)(6) not-for-profit corporation serving 33 counties in Eastern North Carolina. The organization is funded primarily by membership dues from more than 2,900 local businesses and professional firms. The BBB promotes integrity, consumer confidence and business ethics through business self-regulation in the local marketplace. Services provided by the BBB include, reports on companies and charitable organizations, general monitoring of advertising in the marketplace, dispute resolution services, and consumer/business education programs. All services are provided at no cost to the public, with the occasional exception of mediation and arbitration. Visit bbb.org.
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