Ask Asa: How to be an empowered consumer
Are you looking for ways to shop smarter and spend less? Ask Asa! Our consumer reporter, Asa Aarons Smith, has ways to ensure you get your money's worth.
Are you looking for ways to shop smarter and spend less? Ask Asa! Our consumer reporter, Asa Aarons Smith, has ways to ensure you get your money's worth.
Are you looking for ways to shop smarter and spend less? Ask Asa! Our consumer reporter, Asa Aarons Smith, has ways to ensure you get your money's worth.
The Federal Trade Commission says Americans lost ten billion dollars to scams last year, much related to online fraud.
However, the same technology that allows crooks to take your money can be a weapon against online thieves—and your best defense is learning to use it as a protective sword.
The challenge is staying constantly vigilant. That is especially necessary on social media, where ads blend seamlessly with chatter from friends and relatives.
Anne Tyler of Beaufort County was browsing Facebook when a clothing ad caught her eye. "While I try to shop locally in our small communities, sometimes it's interesting to see what else is out there. And I saw a company with a cool pair of fashion pants," she said.
The ad looked perfect—too perfect. And Tyler had growing suspicions that the company and its products were not what they seemed.
"The reviews were all glowingly good. And they were awkwardly phrased, awkward enough to raise a red flag for me," she said.
Tyler turned to an internet tool called Scam Detector, a Toronto, Ontario-based fraud prevention resource platform. Scam Detector operates a website validator so consumers can check a website's trustworthiness level on a scale from 1 to 100, with 100 being the safest.
Tyler quickly discovered that the company offering fancy pants started in Iceland four months ago and that it scored only 58 on Scam Detector's trust scale. "Yeah, that's not high enough for me," she said.
Tyler said, "The good old Better Business Bureau was also a big help" because it provided clear advice on spotting fake customer reviews. "It's beneficial for the average reader or user of online shopping to see if the review itself is fake, let alone the company. Frequently, they go hand in hand—fake companies and fake reviews.
Tyler said the BBB reviews offer objective and critical information.
"As you read the reviews, you see people saying, 'Hey, I went down this rabbit hole myself. I either purchased something and never got it, 'I purchased something, and the quality wasn't there,' or 'I've looked at this, and it's a complete scam.' So, others like me are doing the same kind of research. "
If you want to become an empowered consumer,
- Pause before any purchase. Ask yourself whether you want or need the item. How much use does it offer, and what will you do with it at the end of its useful life?
- If you still feel compelled to purchase, critically evaluate online reviews. Search for the brand and model or style across domains on more than one website.
- If you want to buy a unique product from an unfamiliar site, follow Tyler's lead. Use an online tool like Scam Detector and a tested resource like the BBB to get as much information as possible.
- Always research where the product is originating. Buying from a company abroad is okay, but you should factor in the probability of shipping delays and challenges with refunds and returns.
I'm thrilled to see consumers become more innovative and empowered, and I would love to continue sharing success stories regularly. Send me your story ideas at Asa@AskAsa.com.
