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Safety Tips For The Shopping Season

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By HERNANDO TODAY STAFF

The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 28, 2008

While Black Friday sales may not be as high as retailers would wish this year, shoppers are still expected to turn out in droves to take advantage of rock-bottom bargains. Take care of yourself and your loved ones with these safety tips:

• Always park in a spot where there is plenty of light and if possible, park close to your destination.

Shop with a friend or family member - having a friend walk to and from the parking lot with you will help keep you both safe and sound.

Place your packages in your trunk or under your seat where no one can see them.

Condense your packages into one or two bags to create the illusion that you did not purchase so many valuable (and theft-worthy) items.

When walking to your car have your head up and your keys ready, the last thing you want to do is appear vulnerable to criminals. In addition, make sure to look under and in front of your car to make sure that no one is waiting to attack you.

Get into the car, lock the doors and exit the area immediately. Criminals prey on shoppers who sit in their cars to make phone calls or review their purchases for the day. Don't leave yourself susceptible to such a risk.

While it's important to keep ensure your physical well-being, it's important to keep tabs on cybercriminals, too. Here's how:

Protect your privacy and know who you're dealing with. Provide personal information, such as a credit card number, home address or telephone number, only when necessary and make sure you know the merchant with whom you are dealing.

If you've never heard of the seller, check them out with your local Better Business Bureau or with Bronson's Division of Consumer Services at 1-800-HELPFLA (1-800-435-7352) before you decide to make a purchase.

Track your purchases. When shopping online, keep printouts of the Web pages with details about the transaction, including any warranties or return and refund policies. When shopping by phone or from a catalog, keep records of your order, including the company's name, address, phone number, date of your order and item number or description of the merchandise you ordered.

Keep receipts. You may need them to return an item or reconcile a credit card statement. When purchasing a gift, ask for a separate gift receipt.

Source: insurance.com and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

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