If you are buying products, whether in a retail store, by catalog, or online, you may decide at some future date to return the merchandise for a full refund or cancel the order prior to delivery. For many consumers, buying merchandise is exciting and little or no thought is given to policies governing returns, refunds or cancellations. An estimated 10% of consumers purchasing new products, and many major appliance buyers, end up returning the purchased merchandise or cancelling the order. The cost to a consumer for returning an item or cancelling an order can range from $50 to $5,000, depending on the purchase price. Some consumers, however, may not realize that these hidden fees are unlawful and that they are victims of consumer fraud.

Categories of fraud related to shopping for products and services include:

• Hidden fees
• Online auctions
• Sweepstakes scams
• Magazine subscriptions
• And others

If you have been victimized when shopping for products or services, contact Consumer Fraud Online to discuss your options.