<BACK | 4/10/2008 1:59:00 PM
With the number of users on the internet growing exponentially, and more people joining the online community every day, the draw of quick and easy money is too strong for many criminals. Internet based markets (eBay, online classifieds etc) are fast becoming a popular target for those with the poorest of intentions.
The Classifieds section on Sarnia Online (http://classified.sarnia.com) is a good example. A busy site, where thousands of items are sold or traded between local residents, this site has a constant stream of new people visiting daily as well as many people who constantly monitor the site for the frequent good deals. While posting rules clearly state the site is for use by local residents only, every so often a strange email address may appear in your inbox.
“Hello, I am Dustin from North Carolina, I saw your ad for: [item] posted on [site]”, says the email. “If I send you a cheque for $2,000, you may keep the money for [item], but please, send me [item], and take the extra money and send it to my great aunt in the old country.”
Well “Dustin” if that is your real name (which it certainly isn’t), you are trying to scam me. I’ll pass thank you very much. As I hit the delete key, I think not everyone may realize this user is not sincere, and so without any further delay come the EBTech IdeaTeam’s 7 easy tips to recognizing scams (and scammers) online.
1. If it sounds too good to be true, it most likely is. Scammers work on the assumption you will believe what they say as the truth. If the truck you are selling is only worth $500, someone from Austria doesn’t want to buy it for $4,000, no matter how much they try to convince you they do. What they want to do is send you a fraudulent cheque and have you send the difference back to them in cold, hard cash.
2. Never, EVER send out anything you are selling before you have the money for the item. Selling privately is based on trust between the buyer and seller. Arrange a meeting in a public place. If this is not possible, let the seller know you are going to have to verify their payment before anything is sent.
3. Never, EVER let a buyer (a complete stranger) know anything about you, including where you live, your home phone number, where you work etc.
4. If you have doubts about the transaction or the buyer, utilize the available resources. There are sites out there devoted to helping people keep themselves safe from scammers. Scambusters (www.scambusters.org) is one of the largest online resources, with constant updates informing people about new scams as they are revealed. When in doubt, it never hurts to email your Internet Provider and ask for an expert opinion.
5. Consider using PayPal for your transactions. Acting as a middle man, the 3.4% that they charge sellers is a small price to pay for peace of mind. Buyers will appreciate The PayPal Buyer Protection Policy, which states: “Customers may file a buyer complaint within 45 days if they did not receive an item or if the item they purchased was significantly not as described. If the buyer used a credit card, they might get a refund via chargeback from their credit card company.” And sellers appreciate the fact that they never have to guard against fraudulent payments.
6. Beware of emails from respected companies that look official, but ask you for billing or personal information. If any company or government agency needs this information, they will not ask for it over the internet. If you receive an email that looks genuine, always call the company to double check. Tech savvy criminals mimic legitimate institutions (and their logos) hoping people will erroneously hand over their personal financial information.
7. Education. Education. Education! Kids are taught not to take candy from strangers, but how are they to know what is right and wrong on the internet if their parents don’t fully understand. Keeping up to date with the newest technologies not only helps keep you and your personal information safe, but also gives you the proper knowledge to pass on to others to ensure their safety in the future.
These seven basic tips for protecting yourself will not be effective for you at all without the final ingredient: using them! In any marketplace, common sense + good advice + action will keep you pretty well protected. Remember: the internet is the same as any other market place—there are a few unsavory people looking to rip you off and give everyone else a bad name. Keep your wits about you and don’t do anything online that you wouldn’t do offline. If all else fails, never be afraid to ask for help.
<BACK | 4/10/2008 1:59:00 PM