Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) March 03, 2013
Scambook, the Internet’s leading complaint resolution platform with over $ 10 million in resolved reported damages, wants to remind the public that National Consumer Protection Week begins Sunday, March 3.
While Scambook believes that consumer protection is always a vital issue, National Consumer Protection Week presents an opportunity to bring extra awareness to the latest consumer threats and educate the public.
Consumers may visit NCPW.gov for free resources and a list of community outreach events in their area. In a recent press release, the Federal Trade Commission’s Charles Harwood* said that the website has “information that can help consumers understand their rights, protect their privacy, avoid identity theft, recognize scams, manage their credit and debt, and even report fraud.”
To avoid scams and deceptive business practices, Scambook also advises consumers to review the following safety tips:
1. Research products and stores online. Consumers are advised to do online research for any new product, service, brick-and-mortar store or retail website before placing a purchase. They can find reviews from other customers and search for complaints about the business on Scambook.com. Consumers can also research the current retail price for popular items like electronics or designer fashion, enabling them to avoid misleading bargains.
Consumers are advised against using public WiFi networks when ordering a product or conducting other financial transactions such as online banking. Always look for a secure “https:/” URL before submitting credit card information or other private personal data to a website.
2. Know when and how to dispute a credit card charge. Consumers should be aware of their rights under the Fair Credit Billing Act, which guarantees that they cannot be held accountable for more than $ 50 when their credit card is lost or stolen.
Consumers can dispute credit card charges under the following circumstances: