Digital Literacy

The Burlington Public Library wants to help you avoid scams and shop safely. Stop into the library or check out these helpful tips and booklists below for further information.

Take a Quiz

Test your digital literacy skills, try one of these quizzes:

• Beauty Tip or Misinformation?
• Online Marketplace Deal or Scam?
• Buying a Truck Online: Don't Get Tricked!

Don't Get Scammed-Pay Attention to the Tips Below

Buying a Vehicle from an Individual Online

Three things to remember when you buy a car or truck:

1. Making major purchases online can be daunting. The Burlington Public Library can help you avoid scams and shop safely. Stop by for assistance, or check out these handy tips and booklists for further information.
2. Get familiar with common online car-buying scams to avoid.
3. Do some research online.
   - Evaluate reviews of the seller, but be careful, reviews could be fake.
   - Search for seller's phone number- has it been used for telemarketing?
   - Confirm that make/model/year of vehicle exists.
   - Verify the vehicle's market value using KBB.com- be cautious of extremely low prices, it may be too good to be true.
   - Use a free VIN Check website to find out as much about the vehicle as possible. 
   - Do a reverse image search to make sure you're looking at photos of the actual vehicle and not a stock image.
   - Examine the photo of the seller to make sure it's a real person, not a deepfake (a video or image of a person that has been digitally altered so that they appear to be someone else, typically used maliciously, or to spread false information). 
4. Get Real
   - Phone the seller to confirm you're dealing with a real person.
   - Arrange to see the vehicle in-person. Bring a friend or family member along. Meet in a public place.
   - Bring the vehicle for a professional inspection if possible.
   - Never give out your social security number or bank account number.
   - Pay in cash or at a bank- be wary of escrow services pushed by the seller- select your own, reputable service instead.
   - Make sure the seller has a clear title to the vehicle and gives it to you when you pay.
5. Take these steps if you are the victim of an online auto scam. 

Shopping on Facebook Marketplace

1. Pause to get your emotions in check and consider how to tell if the information is legitimate.
2. Read Facebook Marketplace's guide to Recognizing Scams. 
3. Evaluate reviews of the seller, but be careful, reviews can be falsified.
4. Be careful about giving out account information, verification codes, or passwords.

Other resources:
Seven Facebook Marketplace Scams to Watch Out for- Times money Mentor (thetimes.co.uk)
10 Facebook Marketplace Scams to watch Out for; How to Avoid, Report (businessinsider.com)

Sorting Through Skin Care Scams

1. Pause to get your emotions in check and consider how to tell if the information is legitimate.
2. Be suspicious of exaggerations like "miracle" or "wonder" to describe the product.
3. Research the reputation of the scientific journals referenced. Not all scientific journals are as trustworthy or acclaimed as others.
4. Use library databases to track down links or citations to the actual scientific studies quoted. Make sure they actually said what the advertisement claims and that it is in the right context.
5. Consider the source of information about the product. TikTok and other social media platforms do not require online sellers to verify their credentials. Sellers are out to make money, and are incentivized to make exaggerated claims to generate more clicks and earn a commission.
6. Check to make sure the website is for an actual reputable brand, not a knock-off. Is the website address spelled correctly? Is it a reseller? Luxury brands are especially vulnerable to fraud.
7. Be careful about sharing credit card information with unknown sellers or websites. Look for verified payment methods like PayPal, ApplePay, and others.

Further Resources:
Health Fraud Scams | FDA

More Resources

It's hard to know what to trust in the online environment.
For more digital literacy skills, take a look at these resources.

• Spot Which Face is Real vs. which ones are AI-generated.
• Experience an online escape room that teaches resilience to misinformation.
• Learn the Trust Indicators to identify reliable, ethical journalism.
• Watch UW professors Carl Bergstrom and Jevin West's course Calling Bullshit: Data Reasoning in a Digital World. 
• Use the three golden rules from Scam Spotter to thwart scammers.

Got a question? Ask Us! The online space can be tricky navigate. The Burlington Public Library staff is here to help.

The Burlington Public Library also offers free access to Consumer Reports Magazine with the use of your library card.

Digital Literacy Booklist