Georgia attorney general warns holiday shoppers to protect themselves

November 25, 2016 - East Cobb - Black Friday shoppers check out at Kohl's in East Cobb.  Kohl's was  among retailers opening Thursday evening and staying open until midnight Friday, nearly 30 hours later.  BOB ANDRES  /BANDRES@AJC.COM

Credit: Bob Andres

Credit: Bob Andres

November 25, 2016 - East Cobb - Black Friday shoppers check out at Kohl's in East Cobb. Kohl's was among retailers opening Thursday evening and staying open until midnight Friday, nearly 30 hours later. BOB ANDRES /BANDRES@AJC.COM

Before shopping for the holidays, Georgia customers should take precautions against fraud, rip-offs and identity theft.

Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr says the prevalence of online gift buying makes it more important than ever for customers to safeguard their wallets and identities. He provided several tips:

Shoppers should consider using credit cards, which provide refunds for defective items and fraudulent purchases. Gifts bought with cash, checks or debit cards don’t provide the same protection. Customers should also check their credit card and bank accounts frequently to ensure transactions are accurate.

In addition, Carr suggests that customers avoid online scams by shopping with reputable, well-known websites and checking out companies with the Better Business Bureau at www.bbb.org. Shoppers should also compare prices to make sure that advertised discounts are actually a good deal.