Buying products over the Internet sounds easy - no congested parking lots or cashier lines. Local computer experts say people knowing the pitfalls of Internet shopping can keep consumers from ending up as fraud victims and make them feel more comfortable buying online. Internet auction sites like eBay are popular, but they also generate the most fraud complaints, said Holly Anderson, spokeswoman for the National Consumers League. Besides, she added, just because you buy an item from an auction, doesn't mean you got the best deal. Sellers often misrepresent their wares or sell items for more than they are worth.
Victims often avoid seeking help.
It can be a very frustrating experience when things go wrong. Shopping online magnifies the issues involved in catalog shopping. It is easy to misrepresent goods online, and Web sites and their operators can disappear overnight. But when you buy that same shirt online, it may come as a crumpled up T-shirt. If you don't know the retailer you are dealing with, Internet shopping can be especially risky for buying items, like musical instruments, that need to be tried out and checked for quality.