Don't Fall Victim to Internet Fraud-10 Tips For Safer
Surfing by Eric Buck
The Internet offers a global marketplace for consumers and
businesses. However, criminals also recognize the potential of cyberspace. The
same scams that have reached us by telephone and in our mailbox can now be found
on the World Wide Web and in email. Organizations such as the National Fraud
Information Center have emerged to help people recognize shady schemes in
order to prevent further victims.
According to the Internet
Fraud Complaint Center (IFCC), a partnership between the National
White Collar Crime Center and the FBI, the number of fraud victims is
in the hundreds of thousands and total dollars lost are in the hundreds of
millions, and rising at an exponential rate. A search on Google for "internet
fraud" results in over 3,200,000 listings at the time of this writing!
It is difficult sometimes to tell the difference between
reputable online sellers and criminals who use the Internet to separate people
from their money. You can protect yourself by learning how to recognize the
danger signs of fraud. If you are a victim of Internet fraud, it is important to
file a complaint with the IFCC at
http://www.ifccfbi.gov/ quickly so that
law enforcement agencies can quickly shut down the fraudulent operations.
Know whom you're dealing with. If the seller or charity is
unfamiliar, check with your state or local consumer protection agency and the
Better Business Bureau
http://www.bbb.org/. Search the
Federal Trade Commission website
http://www.ftc.gov/ for the company or organization that you are considering doing business with. Some Web sites have feedback forums, which can provide useful information about other people's
experiences with particular sellers. Get the physical address and phone number
(and actually make a call before you give them money-to make sure that the phone
number is correct) in case there is a problem later.
Guard your personal information. Make sure that any website that
requires sensitive information is encrypted. An encrypted website usually has a
yellow padlock symbol somewhere on the page, typically at the bottom. Don't
provide your credit card or bank account number unless you are actually paying
for something. Your social security number should not be necessary unless you
are applying for credit. Be especially suspicious if someone claiming to be from
a company, with whom you have an account, asks for information that the business
already has.
Pay the safest way. Credit cards are the safest way to pay for
online purchases because you can dispute the charges if you never receive your
order, or if the offer was misrepresented. Federal law limits your liability to
$50 if someone makes unauthorized charges to your account, and most credit card
issuers will remove them completely if you report the problem promptly.
Look for information about how complaints are handled. It can be
difficult to resolve complaints, especially if the seller or charity is located
in another country. Look on their website for information about programs that
require standards for reliability and assistance in handling disputes with which
the company or organization participates.
Be aware that an organization without complaints is not a
guarantee. Fraudulent operators set up shop and close down quickly, so the fact
that nobody has made a complaint doesn't mean the seller or charity is
legitimate. You still need to look for other danger signs of fraud.
Understand the offer. A legitimate seller will give you all the
details about the products or services, the total price, the refund and
cancellation policies, the terms of any warranty, and the delivery time.
Think twice before entering contests operated by unfamiliar
companies. Fraudulent marketers sometimes use contest entry forms to identify
potential victims.
Be cautious about unsolicited emails. They are often fraudulent.
Recent legislation requires all marketing emails to include a working link that
enables the recipient to be excluded from future mailings.
Beware of imposters. Someone might send you an email pretending
to be connected with a business or charity. Others may create a website that
looks just like that of a well-known company or charitable organization. If
you're not sure that you're dealing with the real thing, find another way to
contact the legitimate business or charity.
Beware of "dangerous downloads." In downloading programs to see
pictures, hear music, play games, etc., you could download a virus that wipes
out your computer files or connects your modem to a foreign telephone number,
resulting in expensive phone charges. Only download programs from websites you
know and trust. Read all user agreements carefully.
About the Author
Eric
Buck is an established ezine publisher and direct marketer who specializes
in helping ordinary people make extraordinary money working from home on the
internet.
http://www.homecashincome.com
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