Warning over internet shopping

PEOPLE should be wary of buying goods on the Internet according to trading standards officers in Warrington.
Their warning follows recent reports of fake tickets for events being sold on the Internet.
Officers say that most online sales are legitimate but warn people to take care when buying.
They point out that the person buyers deal with online could be anyone as it is easy to fake email addresses. So they suggest clients establish fully who they are dealing with before they give out personal information.
Officers suggest where possible people try to deal with well-known or personally recommended retailers. They should find out the full postal address of the trader, and be wary of any company that only gives a post office box number.
Customers are advised to shop around for the best prices and service, and if appropriate to pay for goods using a credit card which offers extra protection under the Consumer Credit Act.
People are advised to ensure they have a business address before giving out credit card details and that the trader has an encryption facility to scramble card details while in transit.
Officers also advise people not to use money transfer services and to be cautious of offers that seem too good to be true, as they very often are!
More information on e-commerce and consumer rights is available on www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/warrington.