Markets Wired

Just in time for the holiday shopping season, the Federal Trade Commission has 12
tweets about watching your wallet, shopping wisely, and protecting your personal information.

If you tweet or update your status on a social networking page, the FTC hopes you’ll post
one of these short messages about keeping the grinch away from your celebrations.

1. Plan and pay. With layaway, you get the goods after paying in full. But what if you miss a
   payment or want your money back? Visit ftc.gov.
2. Save every receipt. Keep copies of the refund & return policies, your order number, shipping costs & warranties. Visit ftc.gov.
3. Many happy returns? Maybe not. Merchants have different refund & return policies for sales & clearance items. Visit ftc.gov.
4. All in the cards. Gift cards sold on online auction sites may be fake. Before you buy, get the expiration dates & fees. Visit ftc.gov.
5. Treat a gift card like cash. If it’s lost or stolen, you may be out the whole amount. Report it to the issuer right away. Visit ftc.gov.
6. Don’t get scrooged by emails seeking personal information. Don’t reply, click the link, or
   paste it into a browser. Visit ftc.gov.
7. Tis the season to be wary – of a charity that won’t provide information in writing: mission,
   costs & where the money goes. Visit ftc.gov.
8. Ho Ho NO? Sites promising easy credit – no matter what – are tempting for a shopping spree, but chances are they’re scams. Visit ftc.gov.
9. Wire beware. Despite the story, if a seller insists you wire money, you probably won’t get the item or your money back. Visit ftc.gov.
10. Jingle sells. Don’t take a check for more than your selling price; don’t wire back the extra.
    It’s a scam. Visit ftc.gov.
11. Make a list and check it twice. If it costs money – gifts, cards, wrapping paper, parking or
    snacks – add it to your budget. Visit ftc.gov.
12. No go on the BOGO? Is “Buy One, Get One Free” really a bargain? If you don’t want or need the extra item, it’s not a deal. Visit ftc.gov.

The Federal Trade Commission works for consumers to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them.To file a complaint, or to get free information on consumer issues, visit www.ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261.The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft, and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure online database available for more than 1700 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.

(FYI 2009 Holiday Tweet)