Shopping

Whether you’re hiring a contractor, looking for an apartment, or shopping online, chances are you check out online reviews first. Many people use reviews to see the honest opinions of other buyers — and companies rely on reviews to stand out from the crowd. But some companies write, post, or pay for fake reviews — and that hurts people and honest companies.

You’ve probably seen ads online, on TV, or on social media for subscription offers. They could be for anything from gifts and groceries to snacks and magazines. Some say you can try the subscription for free — but it might not be true. Some will auto-renew if you don’t cancel first, which might come as a surprise. Sometimes you’re signed up for a subscription without even knowing it. Problems with subscriptions or membership fees can happen when a business doesn’t clearly explain that it will keep billing you unless you do something. And that’s what the FTC alleges happened with Maplebear Inc., doing business as Instacart. According to the FTC, Instacart violated the law when, among other things, it charged people annual membership fees for its subscription service after they’d completed free trials — without getting their consent.

Does it feel like the holidays come around faster and faster every year? If you’re looking to save time by avoiding the crowds and doing some holiday shopping online, know that scammers camp out online all year long. So if you’re planning to shop online for holiday gifts, how can you avoid accidentally running into a scam?