Back To School Shopping

Now that the Fourth of July holiday is over, many retailers have replaced Independance Day items with back-to-school merchandise. Consumers not only seek good buys from those merchants, but also look for bargains online to prepare for the upcoming school year. When purchasing online beware of scammers trying to make a profit. Michelle Reinen is with The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP).

Fake websites can look legitimate, so it is always good to look for any red flags that prove the website is not the company’s actual site.

Reinen suggests the best way to not be a victim of this scam is to shop at a local business, or any retailer, where you can purchase your back-to-school needs.

If you have been scammed by a fake website, or are a victim of any scam, you can contact DATCP’s Consumer Protection Hotline by phone at 1-800-422-7128 or by email at DATCP Hotline at wi dot gov.