Beware of sneaky tricks before you buy online

WASHINGTON - Trick or treating was last month -- but the trickery is still happening online, just as the holiday shopping season ramps up.

"You do have to be on your guard...in terms of shopping online. But if you shop from a trusted retailer...chances are you're going to be OK," says Washington Post retail reporter Ylan Mui.

It's a good idea to check an online shopping site's return policy before you buy, and Consumer Reports is spreading the word about some lesser-known tricks some cybershopping sites play.

You've probably noticed many shopping sites carry some kind of seal of approval, meant to show you the site can be trusted. But be wary, unless that seal is from the Better Business Bureau. Some other web seals only require Web sites to pay a fee to display them.

And if you click on a product and see a rave review posted next to it, dig a little deeper and look at all the user reviews. Some Web sites will move a positive product review to the top of the stack if the maker or retailer pays a fee.

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