Online Shoppers Beware ...

As online holiday shopping swings into full gear, the FBI is reminding consumers how to avoid scams.

In a news release, the bureau told consumers to be wary of e-mails or text messages that indicate a problem with financial accounts. Often the websites those messages link to appear legitimate, but they are not, and any information entered could be compromised.

FBI also warned shoppers to be careful on auction websites. Criminals will post advertisements for products they do not have and sometimes products purchased could be stolen, the bureau said.

Among other tips were:

• Do not respond to unsolicited e-mail
• Only open attachments from known senders
• Avoid filling out forms contained in e-mail messages
• Contact the actual business to verify that an e-mail is genuine

If you do receive a suspicious e-mail, you can file a complaint here with the Internet Crime Complaint Center.

But the best advice, which is ages old, comes from the FBI itself: "If a deal looks too good to be true, it likely is."