Louisiana – As Louisiana residents prepare for Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Attorney General Liz Murrill is urging shoppers to put safety and fraud prevention at the top of their holiday lists.
In a statement released ahead of the busy shopping weekend, Murrill encouraged both in-store and online shoppers to stay alert, plan ahead, and take basic precautions to avoid theft, scams, and financial loss.
“We want everyone to have a safe Black Friday shopping experience. Don’t become a victim this holiday shopping season. Learn how to protect yourself with these simple tips,” Murrill said.
In-Store Black Friday Safety Tips
With large crowds, packed parking lots, and limited-time deals, Black Friday can create conditions where theft, disputes, and scams are more likely. The Attorney General’s Office is advising Louisiana consumers to take several steps before and during their shopping trips.
Key recommendations for in-person shoppers include:
- Be aware of surroundings
Shoppers are urged to stay alert in parking lots, stores, and checkout lines. Being observant can help people avoid theft, pickpocketing, or confrontations over merchandise. - Plan the trip in advance
The Attorney General recommends planning which stores to visit and when to go. A planned route can reduce stress, save time, and limit unnecessary trips, especially during peak hours. - Avoid disputes over merchandise
Murrill’s office advises consumers to be patient with other shoppers and not argue or fight over items. The guidance emphasizes that no discount is worth a confrontation. - Use credit cards rather than cash
The Attorney General encourages the use of credit cards instead of carrying cash. Credit cards generally provide stronger protections, including the ability to dispute unauthorized or incorrect charges with the card issuer. - Limit or avoid carrying cash
Shoppers are advised not to carry large amounts of cash. If a wallet or purse is lost or stolen, cash cannot be recovered, unlike a credit card, which can be canceled. - Know return policies and warranties
Before buying, consumers are encouraged to read and understand store return policies and warranty information. This can help avoid surprises if an item needs to be returned, exchanged, or repaired. - Keep all receipts
Murrill’s office recommends keeping receipts for all purchases. Receipts are often required for returns, exchanges, and warranty claims, and they are also useful if a consumer later needs to dispute a charge.
For more consumer safety tips, or to file a consumer dispute involving a business, the Attorney General’s Office directs residents to visit AGLizMurrill.com/Resources or call the Consumer Protection Hotline at 800-351-4889.
Cyber Monday And Online Shopping Risks
For those who prefer to avoid crowds, Cyber Monday offers online deals that often rival in-store sales. However, the Attorney General warns that online shopping carries its own set of risks, including identity theft, fraudulent websites, and misleading offers.
“Cyber Monday is a great and easy way to avoid all the crowded stores on Black Friday, but you still need to protect yourself from scammers who could be looking to steal your identity and hard-earned money,” Murrill said.
“I urge all consumers to make sure the website and company are legitimate, and then review the company’s return policy and warranty information before you click purchase,” she added.
Online Shopping Safety Tips From The Attorney General
Murrill’s office outlined several specific steps Louisiana consumers should take before entering payment information online:
- Check that the website is secure
Shoppers are encouraged to look at the website address, or URL, before making a purchase. A secure site should begin with “https://” rather than “http://” — the “s” indicates that the site is using a secure connection, which helps protect information like credit card numbers. Shoppers should keep in mind that this does not mean that a site is trustworthy, but it does indicate that information transferred between your device and the website is secured by encryption. - Watch for fake or look-alike websites
Scammers sometimes create websites that closely resemble well-known brands, using similar logos, colors, or slightly altered web addresses. The Attorney General advises consumers to double-check spellings in the URL and to be cautious when clicking links from emails or social media. - Pay with credit cards, not debit cards or cash-like methods
The guidance again stresses the use of credit cards for online purchases. Credit cards usually offer stronger fraud protection and make it easier to dispute unauthorized charges. Consumers are urged to be careful with payment methods that are harder to trace or reverse. - Be skeptical of “too good to be true” contests and promotions
The Attorney General warns shoppers to beware of extremely low prices, unexpected prize offers, or contests that require personal or financial information up front. Such promotions can be a sign of phishing attempts or fraud. - Read fine print and return policies
Consumers are advised to review shipping terms, restocking fees, deadlines for returns, and warranty details before buying. Knowing these terms in advance can prevent disappointment if a product arrives late, damaged, or not as expected.
As with in-store shopping, consumers who encounter problems with a business or believe they may have been scammed can seek assistance through the Attorney General’s resources page at AGLizMurrill.com/Resources or call the Consumer Protection Hotline at 800-351-4889.
State Officials Emphasize Prevention
The Attorney General’s Office is focusing on education as a primary tool to protect Louisiana residents from financial harm during the holiday season. By reminding shoppers to slow down, review details, and be cautious about where and how they spend, officials hope to reduce the number of consumer complaints and disputes.
The overall message from Murrill’s office is straightforward: whether shopping in a crowded store or on a smartphone at home, a few simple steps — like using credit cards, checking website security, and keeping receipts — can help safeguard personal information and money during the busiest shopping days of the year.