AG warns of dangers in Net shopping

The attorney general's office says consumers need to be aware of the risks in holiday shopping on the Internet.

"For many consumers, online shopping is becoming a more and more attractive alternative to in-store or catalog shopping," said Frankie Sue Del Papa. "But just like traditional shopping, virtual shopping must be approached with sufficient caution."

The AG's Consumer Protection Bureau warns that shoppers should deal only with established, reputable retailers and check its online policies for such things as refunds and exchanges. The bureau advises people to also protect their privacy by making sure they understand whether online sellers are also collecting personal information to sell.

Finally, the consumer protection bureau warns shoppers to pay only with a credit card and beware of any sellers asking for bank account numbers or systems that debit money from that account. By comparison, credit cards offer protections to the buyer.

Information about Internet shopping as well as concerns or complaints should be forwarded to 688-1818.