Cyber Monday: Shopping online safely

GRAND CHUTE -  For those who didn't brave the crowds and cold for "Black Friday" and "Small Business Saturday," there is another option for holiday deals: "Cyber Monday."

While stores in the Fox Valley saw no shortage of shoppers this weekend.  Many prefer to take their business to the web.

"That's something as a company we look at too, in terms of expanding our online selection and making it a part of the store experience as well," said Jessica Leveque, Executive Team Leader for Human Resources at Target in Grand Chute.

Companies like Target have QR codes in store you can scan with an app to take you to products online.

Big boxes and small stores alike offer big deals on their websites on the day known as Cyber Monday, but it's important to remember: online retail comes with risks.

"Extremely important. Absolutely. Always make sure your information is protected," said Leveque.

The experts say many scammers are waiting on the web to take advantage of those looking for deals.

"It's an opportunity for them to infect your computer and steal your identity," said JoEllen Wollangk, Manager for the Better Business Bureau Northeast Wisconsin Region.

Wollangk has a few tips to keep your money and information safe as you shop online.  She says first thing's first: check the site's url.

"Make sure that you're actually at the company that you think you're at and not at a copy that a scammer could make," said Wollangk.

Then pay the right way.

"Pay with a credit card so that you have dispute ability if it should not show up.  Do not use a debit card," explained Wollangk.

According to Wollangk, the money is taken right out of your account with debit and can't always be retrieved if you don't get what you paid for.

She added know your rights: a website has a specific time frame to send you what you ordered.

"It needs to be delivered by the date they tell you it will be delivered.  If they don't give a delivery date, it needs to be delivered in 30 days," said Wollangk.

Wollangk also recommended reading all of the fine print.

"Keep copies of any documentation from your orders," said Wollangk.

And steer clear of any offers that look too good to be true... they most likely are.

It's important to make sure the online companies you're buying from are reputable too. You can check them out through the Better Business Bureau's website . The BBB also has a smart phone app to do this.