New York, U.S.A. — Cyber Monday has emerged in recent years as a convenient way to get great holiday shopping deals from the comfort of your home and avoid having to brave the crowds on Black Friday or rise before daybreak to save money on those must-have gifts.

However, buyer beware. Scams abound online, and Cyber Monday is a time to be particularly vigilant about protecting yourself from becoming a victim of online theft. AARP’s consumer expert, Sid Kirchheimer offers tips on how to shop safely at home on Cyber Monday.

Surfing for gifts in cyberspace can be risky, courtesy of copycat websites that shoppers sometimes visit inadvertently after typing the name of that sought-after item into a search engine.

Although legitimate online retailers pop up on the screen, so do “cybersquatters,” bogus businesses that steal or alter the Internet addresses of well-known companies to launch copycat sites.

Some are simply fronts for scammers to collect shoppers’ credit card numbers. Others actually sell things, but their “incredible deals,” if delivered at all, are usually poorly made knockoffs.

How to Shop Safely Online

• When you click through to a website, carefully read the domain name — the Internet address — that appears at the top of your browser. Beware of any site whose name has even the slightest change from a legitimate online retailer’s — extra words or letters, misspellings — and anything but the usual .com or .org ending.
• Make sure that addresses of ordering pages always begin with “https://” instead of “http://.” The “s” means it is secure.
• Pay attention to disclosures at the bottom of the page. Most legitimate online retailers have a “Contact Us” page with a phone number and physical address, and a “Terms and Conditions” link detailing return policies and such. Bogus websites may lack these pages or have them but not tell you what you need to know.
• Avoid any website that doesn’t provide a physical address, which you can verify by looking up the company on the Internet, or a phone number. Scam sites often allow only for e-mail correspondence, which makes for better hiding in cyberspace. If a phone number is listed, call it to ensure it’s not a fax machine or voicemail with no live operator — two more red flags for a potential scam.
• Watch for “scammer grammar.” Although legitimate retailers may not moonlight for Webster’s dictionary, their websites tend to be absent of the frequent misspellings and grammatical errors of the websites, ads and e-mail of scammers, who are often foreigners with poor command of English or fly-by-nights with little time to spell-check while trying to stay one step ahead of the law.
• Reject any requests for wire transfer payment. It’s the quickest way to lose money, especially if it’s sent overseas. Legit online retailers accept credit cards, which offer you more protection than debit transactions if you need to dispute payment.
• Don’t believe sob stories. Beware of “act now” offers that tell you the seller is a soldier needing cash for possessions before deploying to a war zone or a recent divorcee wanting to unload her former husband’s belongings. These tactics are often bait to empty your wallet; the items typically don’t exist.
• Research the prices. Similar items typically fall into a general price range. If one being offered to you falls way below that range, you need to ask yourself why. The usual answer: Scammers use ridiculously low prices to lure consumers into a bogus bargain.
• Be on guard at online auctions. Lost the winning bid on eBay or another auction website? Don’t be taken in by follow-up e-mails offering the same deal. Scammers often cruise online auction sites to pounce on losing bidders and direct them away from those secure buying environments.

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Fort Washington, U.S.A. — There are a wide range of estimates pinpointing the amount of weight Americans gain over the holidays, but one thing is for sure – you know it when you feel it. On the heels of the average American consuming more than 4,500 calories on Thanksgiving Day, it’s no wonder that for many “Black Friday” can feel like “Fat Friday.” Whether it’s .2 pounds or two full pounds, gaining weight at the start of the holiday season can set the stage for a fattening few weeks and ultimately lead to permanent weight gain, but the good news is “Black Friday” doesn’t have to be “Fat Friday.”

Nutrisystem, the nation’s leading provider of home delivery weight loss programs, explained why this is a key dieting juncture and issued a series of related tips to help people get back on track. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) also has advice.

According to the Calorie Control Council, the average person will consume more than 2 ¼ times the amount of calories they normally would during Thanksgiving Day’s national food fest. It is not unusual for a holiday dinner alone to tally up to 3,000 calories with the fat equivalent of three sticks of butter.

Registered Dietitian and one of the research heads at Nutrisystem, Meghan Nichols, describes the day after Thanksgiving as a “critical turning point for dieters.” Nichols oversees some of the company’s counseling support available online and by phone. “This is the time a lot of people either ‘go off the wagon’ or make a quick correction and get back on track. It’s a really challenging time for anyone trying to lose weight.”

Nichols offers the following tips for achieving dieting success even if you’ve already stuffed the turkey and yourself.

Tips for Making Sure “Black Friday” Isn’t “Fat Friday”

Own Up to the Number: It can be a rough day to get on the scale, but it’s one of the most objective ways to keep yourself accountable. While a weight gain of a pound or two may seem unimportant, studies have shown that each year, people gain the most weight within the 6-week winter holiday period, and tend to hold on to that weight through the remainder of the year, with the average American adding on an extra 2 pounds every year of their adult life.

Keep Your Eye on the Prize: Just because you may have thrown caution to the wind for a day or two, doesn’t mean you should throw in the towel on your weight loss goals. Visualize success, stick to your game-plan and forge ahead. Remembering that this is a journey, not a race, is key.

Shop Till You Drop: Even if you’re not buying anything, it can be a good day to hit the mall or an outdoor outlet center and window shop while you walk. Increasing physical activity is a great way to prevent weight gain during this high-risk time. Wear comfortable shoes and throw on a pedometer if you’ve got one. Web MD’s Fit-o-Meter can help you calculate how many calories you’ll burn.

Go Low GI: From the office, to the family holiday party, tempting food may be lurking around every corner during this time. Be sure to plan ahead by preparing foods that feature ingredients that are low on the glycemic index (GI), like whole grains, fruits and nuts. Low-glycemic index eating is a proven approach to managing hunger which can help you resist overindulging. The Nutrisystem community is chock full of tips and recipes that can help you say no to that snickerdoodle.

Dont Blame it on the Cost: Needless to say, it can be a costly time of year with out-of-pocket expenses going toward holiday gifts. But Nichols cautions about using “I can’t afford it right now” as an excuse not to sign up for a proven successful weight loss program. Nutrisystem has plans starting as low as $8 a day and most Nutrisystem customers report spending the same or less on food than they did before using Nutrisystem. Plus, starting the New Year with a new wardrobe after weight loss is often a larger (and welcomed) expense.

You Can do it: The Monday after Thanksgiving, which is also known as “Cyber Monday,” is widely recognized as one of the most popular days to start a diet, only second to January 2. A 2011 study conducted by Nutrisystem determined that Nutrisystem customers lose about one pound a week on average during the “holiday season” (defined as Thanksgiving to New Year’s). “These findings suggest that meaningful weight loss is not only possible, but also common, among persons attempting to lose weight during the holiday season,” said Anthony Fabricatore, co-researcher of the study and Senior Director of Research and Development at Nutrisystem.

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Following a blowout Black Friday/Cyber Monday shopping weekend, many consumers will continue to hit the stores through the final days leading up to Christmas, according to survey data from PriceGrabber, a part of Experian. Results from PriceGrabber’s fourth winter holiday shopping survey reveal that 41 percent of consumers plan to shop between Dec. 21 and Dec. 24 for holiday gifts.

This data comes on the heels of a successful Thanksgiving weekend for retailers, during which PriceGrabber experienced a 15 percent increase in site traffic compared to 2010. Conducted from Nov. 17 to Nov. 30, 2011, the survey includes responses from 13,472 U.S. online shopping consumers.

Many last-minute shoppers hunt for bargains

When those consumers who plan to shop at the last minute were asked to select all of the reasons why, 43 percent said that they believe the best discounts can be found during this time period.

Another 43 percent of consumers indicated that they are busy and unable to finish their shopping earlier, 26 percent admitted to procrastinating, 22 percent believe it is fun to do last-minute shopping, and 10 percent are waiting for a year-end work bonus to begin shopping.

“After observing the increase in activity and sales of the Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping season this year, we expect to see a significant percentage of consumers seeking to prompt retailers to offer additional savings throughout December,” commented Graham Jones, general manager of PriceGrabber.

“Savvy shoppers saw retailers rolling out discounts as early as the week before Thanksgiving this year, and they are staying on top of last-minute incentives that are certainly on the horizon in the coming weeks.”

Consumers will buy a combination of high- and low-price-point items

When asked what type of gifts they plan to purchase at the last minute, 53 percent said they intend to purchase both big- and small-ticket items, 31 percent will buy only small-ticket items (under $100); 10 percent will purchase all of the holidays gifts on their list, and 6 percent will buy only big-ticket items (over$100).

More men will delay holiday shopping until January

While most consumers plan to complete their holiday shopping before Dec. 25, PriceGrabber’s survey found that 9 percent will wait until January to purchase holiday gifts. Men and women differed in their plans, with 11 percent of men saying they will wait until January to buy gifts and only 8 percent of women planning to do so.

When those consumers who will delay their holiday shopping until January were asked to select all of the reasons why, 68 percent said that they believe sale prices are best in January, 27 percent plan to use gift money received during the holiday period, 24 percent simply prefer shopping in January, and 11 percent plan to wait for a year-end work bonus to make purchases.

Daily deal sites begin to make mark on last-minute shoppers

According to PriceGrabber’s survey, a notable percentage of shoppers are turning to daily deal sites for great last-minute prices, with 27 percent indicating that they plan to shop for last-minute gifts on sites such as Groupon and LivingSocial.

Those consumers who plan to use daily deal sites will do so largely in hopes of finding a bargain. Fifty-eight percent of respondents indicated they are trying to save money on gifts and like the discounts available through daily deal sites; 22 percent enjoy the great holiday deals on local services in their area;

13 percent said they liked being able to share great deals with family and friends, especially during the holiday season; 4 percent prefer to give experiential gifts and believe local deal sites offer the best options; and 3 percent are intrigued by the hype around local deal sites.

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Though the unemployment rate continues to hover at 9 percent, there was an increase in Black Friday sales this year. According to the National Retail Federation, 226 million shoppers visited stores, both virtually and in reality this Black Friday weekend. The National Retail Federation provides an analysis of the retail industry.

According to the website, “the world’s largest retail trade association and the voice of retail worldwide, NRF represents retailers of all types and sizes, including chain restaurants and industry partners, from the United States and more than 45 countries abroad.” In the National Retail Federation evaluation, Black Friday weekend included Thursday, Friday, Saturday and expected Sunday spending.

This year’s numbers saw an increase after 2010 saw only 212 million shoppers. The expected budget of shoppers this year was $398.62, an increase from last year’s $365.34, according to the report. Cyber Monday also saw a jump in sales. The Washington Post reported that researchers at IBM Benchmark saw preliminary numbers that showed a 15 percent increase in sales since last year.

The shopping industry is also changing. 7.37 percent of purchases were made on a mobile device, according to Benchmark’s research. This is a 5.12 increase since last year which saw only 2.25 percent of shopping was done on a mobile device. Marketers will now begin to market to its clients and their mobile devices.

The Washington Post reported that Benchmark evaluated its businesses and realized that 80 percent of companies offered some sort of discount, or bargain on Black Friday and/or Cyber Monday. Google Think Insights is a new company that launched mid-November. It is a “one-stop shop for consumer trends, marketing insights and industry research,” according to its website.

The site is primarily geared to businesses who want to increase their marketability among clients and potential business partners. Insights conducts research and analyzes its data. The site then uses these numbers to offer advice to companies in need of tweaking marketing to improve sales.

Buyers will turn to primarily social networking and coupon sites for bargains going into the holiday season, according to Insights research. 74 percent of online purchases will be made on a tablet, while 54 percent will made on a smartphone. Insights expects shoppers to do use their technological devices to complete research regarding their purchases. 55 percent will use the GPS capabilities in their phones, while 47 percent will use the devices to price check different items.

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To get shoppers ready for the Holiday season, Beezid has just announced the Ultimate Shopping Weekend. Beezid kicks off three days of monumental savings on Black Friday, November 25th, with risk-free bidding and a 10% price freeze on all items. Sunday, November 27th will feature a 1% price freeze, and on Cyber Monday, November 28th, Beezid will place an unprecedented 500 items up for bid, all of which will feature free shipping.

Beezid is looking to redefine the overly stressful shopping weekend known as Black Friday/Cyber Monday by eliminating some of the less appealing aspects associated to the holiday weekend such as long lineups and hectic shopping schedules due to restrictive store hours.

Where most stores advertise several deals to get shoppers into the store and provide little else in savings, Beezid’s Ultimate Shopping Weekend offers incredibly low prices on every item, along with the convenience of being able to enjoy guaranteed savings from the comfort of their own home.

“This is going to be a monumental weekend with extraordinary savings on fantastic products,” said Max Bohbot, CEO of Beezid. “This is an important shopping weekend, and our members will experience savings far beyond anything that anyone could find anywhere else. This really is the Ultimate Shopping Weekend, and we are looking forward to holding a series of events that will give everyone the opportunity to walk away with excellent products at astounding prices.”

On Friday, November 25th, beginning at 12AM EST, Beezid will offer guaranteed savings of 90-99%. In addition, every bid placed on every auction will be returned to bidders at the end of each auction. The price freeze and risk-free bidding will run until 11:59PM EST of the same day.

After a one-day break, the excitement begins again at 12AM EST on Sunday, November 27th when Beezid’s Zuper Zunday kicks off 24 hours of 1% price freezes on all items. Savings of 99% are guaranteed on every single auction until 11:59PM EST on that same day.

On Cyber Monday, November 28th, Beezid will offer 500 items up for bid to run throughout the day. Free shipping will be included with each auction win. Throughout the weekend, Beezid will be featuring special locks, ensuring that all who participate will be able to enjoy the event, despite their previous lock limits.

BEEZID.com is a top rated penny auction website which offers a thrilling spin on online auction shopping and one of the most frequently visited and most-trusted sites of its kind world-wide. Since its launch in 2009, Beezid.com has become the leading online auction site for consumers to get top products for up to 99% off the retail price daily in a fun, safe and secure online environment.

Users take advantage of huge discounts on brand new, brand name products by forming bidding strategies and by using bonuses and incentives offered by Beezid.

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Shoppers can once again add destinations to the list of goodies, gadgets and other handsomely priced items offered during the Black Friday/Cyber Monday shopping season.  The Omni Hotels & Resorts “Holiday Treat” limited time offer is back for a second year, offering travelers exceptional values on wonderful winter destinations.

From Black Friday through Cyber Monday, rooms across the brand will range from $79 to $119 in favorite Omni destinations such as Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Fort Worth, New York, San Francisco and more. Plus, in honor of the official kick-off to the holiday shopping season, Omni will give away 100 room nights to 100 lucky followers at Facebook.com/OmniHotels.

“It’s no secret that Black Friday through Cyber Monday is the biggest holiday shopping period of the year. We wanted to give savvy travelers and loyal guests an opportunity to get a holiday treat from Omni too,” said Caryn Kboudi, vice president, corporate communications for Omni Hotels & Resorts.

Omni’s “Holiday Treat” package is subject to availability, cannot be combined with other special offers and applies only to packages booked between November 25 and November 28, 2011 for stays through January 31, 2012. Sweepstakes winners will be announced December 9, 2011.

About Omni Hotels & Resorts

Omni Hotels & Resorts creates genuine, authentic guest experiences that take guests on “A Total Departure” to 50 distinct luxury hotels and resorts in leading business gateways and leisure destinations across North America. From exceptional golf and spa retreats to dynamic business settings, each Omni showcases the local flavor of the destination while featuring four-diamond services, signature restaurants, Wi-Fi connectivity and unique wellness options.

Known for its award-winning, personalized service, Omni leaves a lasting impression with every customer interaction, with a heightened level of recognition and rewards delivered through its Select Guest loyalty program and the company’s “Power of One” associate empowerment program. Earlier this year, Omni’s loyalty program was further expanded with the launch of the GHA Discovery loyalty program expanding numerous benefits on a worldwide basis as a member of the Global Hotel Alliance.

The brand is frequently recognized by top consumer research organizations such as Harris Interactive’s most recent EquiTrends report which ranked Omni as the Top Luxury Hotel Brand in 2011.

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Next to the Saturday before Christmas, Black Friday ranks as the seminal shopping day of the season. Yet a recent analysis by Consumer Reports’ and Decide.com, a website that tracks electronics products and pricing, reveals that the day after Thanksgiving isn’t necessarily the optimal time to get the best deals on many products.

A recent analysis of prices from the mid-November to mid-December period in 2010, conducted with Decide.com, showed that in a significant proportion of cases, the lowest prices of the season on the included items were not on Black Friday or Cyber Monday, the day following the Thanksgiving weekend.

For example, more than a quarter of the recommended TVs and cameras were at least 5 per cent cheaper between Cyber Monday and December 13 than they were earlier, including during the Black Friday weekend. With laptops, the resulting data indicated that consumers would have been at least as likely as with TVs and cameras to save on recommended models by waiting.

“There’s no doubt you can score some incredible bargains by getting up extra early or staying up past your bedtime to take in the midnight madness sales,” says Consumer Reports’ senior editor and shopping expert Tod Marks. “But retailing trends suggest that the opportunity to score a great deal won’t end this weekend. So there’s no need to panic.”

But if you plan to shop at a store or from the comfort of home, here are five Black Friday tips that can help save your money and sanity. The full list can be found at www.ConsumerReports.org.

• It’s not always worth breaking down the ‘door.’There is no doubt that manufacturers offer some deep discounts on Black Friday. Generally, the very best “doorbuster” deals are only available in limited quantities, and perhaps only for a short duration. Since early October, there has been a flurry of doorbuster promotions promising items such as a $200 laptop or TV.Black Friday earned its reputation as a bargain-hunter’s paradise because retailers feature a few of these high-profile items as loss leaders, which are sold at- or below-cost to draw shoppers in. But consumers shouldn’t bother to show up unless they are willing to wait on line, sometimes for hours before the store opens, and should be prepared for possible disappointment. There are no guarantees, and usually no rain checks.

• Sniff out the most appealing specials in advance. Numerous websites, such as FatWallet, Gottadeal, and TheBlackFriday.com obtain and publish Black Friday deals, often weeks before they’re officially released. You can also find out which products come with rebates and which merchants offer free shipping. “Like” your favorite retailers on Facebook and follow them on Twitter for advance notice of special sales. You can also follow @DealCyberMonday on Twitter.

• Try to get it for less online. If a circular features an eye-popping deal, consumers should visit a price-comparison Web site to see if another reliable seller is offering it cheaper. Some sources worth checking: Bizrate, Nextag and Pricegrabber. Shoppers might want to try Amazon, too, as Consumer Reports’  reader surveys have cited Amazon as a good merchant for appliances, electronics, and books. And don’t shop without first checking for coupons at sites such as Coupons.com and RetailMeNot.com.

• Request a price guarantee. Ask if the retailer has a low-price guarantee – which entitles shoppers to a refund of the difference between the new price and the original price paid if the item goes on sale or if it’s offered cheaper elsewhere. Walmart recently announced that it’s beefing up its price-matching policy for the holidays. Note that most price-matching policies apply to the price charged by a “local” competitor, not websites like Amazon.com or even warehouse clubs like Costco and Sam’s.

• Eye return policies carefully.The blanket policy for most products at big-box stores is 90 days, but may be shorter for electronics.  Some merchants extend the return period for holiday purchases, but they reserve the right to refuse to take back anything without an original or gift receipt, especially if the item was bought with cash.Even if a store agrees to take an item back without a receipt, they may only issue you a gift card or store credit slip in exchange. And shoppers will get back the value of the lowest price the item actually sold for, not necessarily the value of the price paid for it. Receipts are needed to take advantage of warranty services. Make sure there are no restocking fees for returned goods

To help shoppers make the best purchasing choices this holiday season, check out www.ConsumerReports.org/holiday. The site will be updated frequently throughout this Hanukah and Christmas holiday season with new postings to ensure that people are prepared for the holidays with the latest information.

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