If you like the convenience of shopping by mail or phone, buying your holiday gifts on the Internet may be appealing. With the click of a mouse, you can order practically anything online. But no matter how you shop, do business with reputable companies and take steps to protect yourself from potential problems. Tips from National Consumers League's Internet Fraud Watch will help you have a fraud-free online shopping experience:

• Do business with companies you know and trust. If a company is unfamiliar, check its complaint records with your state or local consumer protection agency and the Better Business Bureau (go to www.bbb.org to find out how to reach the right Better Business Bureau office). Keep in mind that companies may appear and disappear quickly, especially in cyberspace, so lack of complaints is no guaranty that a business is legitimate.
• Know where the seller is physically located. The Internet opens up shopping to the world. But if the seller is located in another country and has no offices in the United States, resolving problems may be more complicated.
• Look for information about shipping time. Online purchases are covered by the federal telephone and mail order rule, which requires the goods or services to be delivered by the promised time or, if none was stated, within 30 days. Print out information about shipping and other details of the offer in case you need it later.
• Check the cancellation and return policy. It's generally the seller's decision whether to allow cancellations or returns if you change your mind or the gift isn't what the recipient wanted. If the policy is to offer credits instead of refunds, consider whether there would be anything else that you or the person receiving the gift would want.
• Find out about warranties and service. Especially if you're buying an appliance or electronic equipment, it's important to know if it's guaranteed and if service is available locally.
• Know the difference between private sales and sales by a business. Many individuals offer to sell or trade items through online auctions, chat rooms, online classified ads, or bulletin boards. These transactions are not covered by the federal telephone and mail order rule or by most other consumer protection laws. So if you have a problem, it could be difficult to resolve.
• Pay the safest way. If possible, pay by credit card because you can dispute the charges if the goods are misrepresented or never arrive. Some online auctions provide escrow services through which they or separate companies act as go-betweens for shipment and payment. Another option is cash on delivery (COD). Pay by check made out to the seller, not the post office, so you can stop payment if necessary.
• Be careful when sending financial information online. Your browser software can tell you whether the business you're dealing with uses encryption to scramble the information so it can't be deciphered by anyone else. In Netscape, the key symbol on your screen should become whole. Internet Explorer uses a lock graphic that will appear closed if the information is secure. If you have any doubts about how your browser works, ask the software manufacturer, or find out from the business if you can provide your payment information by phone or mail.
• Watch out for phony credit card and loan offers. Fraudulent companies take advantage of consumers' need for cash or credit during the holiday season by making empty promises of loans or credit cards for a fee paid up-front.

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