| In this day and age of cyberspace, one can hardly | | | | stock raises prices, during which the scamsters |
| abstain from availing of atleast some of the | | | | sell and make a profit. Subsequently, when the |
| services that the Net has to offer. But as | | | | stocks under-perform investors are left in the |
| countless cases prove, the internet can also be a | | | | lurch. |
| highly unsafe means of conducting transactions | | | | Identity theft: We have already talked about |
| and day to day business. Protect yourself against | | | | trying to gauge the validity of an online credit card |
| internet fraud before it gets the better of you. | | | | payment, but how do you save your own identity |
| Most internet fraud cases occur in financial | | | | from being misused? Identity theft, a widely |
| transactions ranging from fake credit card | | | | prevalent form of internet fraud, involves the use |
| payments to online auction of items that do not | | | | of your personal data for financial gain. We |
| exist. If you are planning on starting an e-business | | | | suggest you be careful with what and how much |
| or conducting transactions online, then it is best | | | | you reveal about yourself on the internet. |
| that you familiarize yourself with the tricks | | | | Scamsters could easily manipulate your personal |
| fraudsters have been pulling, and the legal antidote | | | | data to take loans, apply for credit cards and |
| to them. Simple precaution can save you a lot of | | | | what not! |
| trouble. | | | | Online Auction/ work schemes: Plenty of websites |
| Transactions online: Exercise caution when you | | | | offer very tempting online auction schemes; |
| make purchases or conduct sales online. Credit | | | | promising you something striking at equally |
| card fraud is on the rise; if you ever sell online, | | | | attractive prices. Be cautious about the websites |
| make sure you are not victimized. Simple | | | | you choose, else you could get duped into paying |
| methods of verification can help a lot. Check the | | | | for something far less eye caching! |
| details of the credit card, such as the address or | | | | "The Computer and Internet Fraud Manual"by |
| the phone number for authenticity. If you've got | | | | Joseph T. Wells of Association of Certified Fraud |
| an online form that requests credit card details, | | | | Examiners, could tell you lots more. |
| do not allow the user to return to the previous | | | | These are just a sample of the most popular |
| page once the details have been filled in. This | | | | types of internet fraud. Apart from scamsters, |
| prevents scamsters from trying different | | | | you could expect trouble form spammers, |
| numbers if the first one they put in is invalid. | | | | viruses, spy ware and more. Hence, it is essential |
| Investment scams: While investing in stocks is | | | | that you take adequate precautions and report |
| definitely a smart thing to do, be very careful | | | | any case of internet fraud to The Internet Fraud |
| with the information you rely on to make your | | | | Complaint Center. Depending upon the nature of |
| decisions. Internet fraud is common with phony | | | | the fraud, you could avail of help from other |
| buy-sell reports urging amateur investors to take | | | | organizations as well. But like we said, prevention |
| imprudent decisions. The temporary demand for a | | | | is better than cure!! |