The FTC and the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) are offering these tips for safer and smarter online shopping this holiday season.

Experts predict that American consumers will spend more online this holiday season than ever before. You can easily avoid crowds by shopping online, but be mindful and protect yourself from hackers, identity thieves, and other spammers.

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Name of Product: DesignWare® Confetti Bursts

Units: About 60,000

Distributor: American Greetings Corp., of Cleveland, Ohio

Hazard: The surface paint on the individual bags of confetti contains excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

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Name of Product: Lounge Chairs and Recliners

Units: About 125,000

Importer/Distributor: Dick’s Sporting Goods, of Pittsburgh, Pa.

Manufacturer: Rankam Group Ltd., of China

Hazard: The plastic support brackets can break and cause the chairs to collapse, posing a hazard to consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: Dick’s Sporting Goods has received 19 reports of the chairs and recliners collapsing, including 17 injuries involving lacerations and back pains.

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Name of Product: 2006 Snow Princess Stirrup Ornaments, 2007 Holiday Stirrup Ornaments, 2007 Photo Frame Horse Shoe Ornaments

Units: About 36,000

Distributor: Reeves International Inc., of Pequannock, N.J.

Hazard: Surface paints on the ornaments contain high levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standards.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

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Name of Product: Children’s fleece hooded zip-up jackets with neck drawstrings

Units: About 3,240

Distributor: The Bon-Ton Department Stores Inc., of York, Pa.

Hazard: The garments have a drawstring through the hood, which can pose a strangulation hazard to children. In February 1996, CPSC issued guidelines (pdf) to help prevent children from strangling or getting entangled on the neck and waist by drawstrings in upper garments, such as jackets and sweatshirts.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

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Name of Product: “Power Bolt” Y-Frame and Ultimate Y-Frame Adjustable Pitchbacks

Units: About 57,000

Importer/Distributor: Dick’s Sporting Goods, of Pittsburgh, Pa.

Manufacturer: Hierarch Enterprises Co., of China

Hazard: The upper portion of the frame can collapse after both locking pins are removed, posing a laceration hazard.

Incidents/Injuries: Dick’s Sporting Goods has received three reports of finger/hand laceration injuries.

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Name of Product: Grand Gourmet Firepits

Units: About 6,000

Distributor/Retailer: Meijer Inc., of Grand Rapids, Mich.

Hazard: The legs of the firepit can bend or snap off during use, causing the firepit to tip over and in turn the fire can escape. This poses a fire hazard to consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received reports of two incidents in which the legs of the firepits bowed in and buckled. No injuries have been reported.

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Name of Product: Performax and Wilton 10” Sliding Miter Saws

Units: About 7,100

Manufacturer: WMH Tool Group Inc. (WMH), of Elgin, Ill.

Hazard: The saw handle’s switch can fail, causing the saw to smoke, spark, and trip circuit breakers, and disable the safety brake. The saw also can keep operating unless the unit is unplugged, posing a laceration hazard to consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: WMH has received reports of six incidents with the saws. No injuries have been reported.

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The Federal Trade Commission finished its case against the purveyors of an envelope stuffing scam. The FTC settled charges with the remaining defendants, who falsely promised that consumers would earn a substantial income from stuffing envelopes.

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The FTC has charged that Budget Rent-a-Car's fuel fee program was deceptive and violated federal law. Budget Rent-a-Car did not adequately disclose its billing practice and made deceptive claims about returning cars with a full tank of gas on its Web site, point of sale disclosures, and rental contracts.

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