Smart online holiday shopping

There’s nothing like the glow you get when you score a good bargain — especially one you get online, without even having to leave your home or office. On the other hand, there's the sinking feeling you can get when you find out you've been scammed after making an online purchase. Some experts are offering some tips on how to avoid spending your money in vain. One reminder is to take a close look at product reviews. They're often generated by fake reviewers or by sellers looking to boost their own profiles. Another tip: make sure third-party sellers on Amazon or eBay aren't offering fakes. And to get the best bargain, use a browser plug-in like Honey to help find the best price or collect discounts. Such plug-ins don't work with mobile devices — only on traditional desktop or laptop computers. Finally, be careful about your credit card numbers. Use them only on sites you trust — and if in doubt, use a system like PayPal — which doesn't pass your payment info to merchants.