Saturday, March 31, 2007

Internet fraud

The term "Internet" fraud refers generally to any type of fraud scheme that uses one or more components of the internet - such as chat rooms, e-mail, message boards, or Web sites- to present fraudulent solicitations to prospective victims or to transmit the proceeds of fraud to financial institutions or to others connected with the scheme.There are some tips to protect yourself and your family from various forms of Internet fraud.
First of all, if you want to avoid Internet auction fraud, understand as much as possible about how the auction works, what your obligations are as a buyer, and what the sellers obligations are. Ask the seller about when delivery can be expected. There should be no reason to give out your social security number to the seller.
Secondly, to avoid credit card fraud don't give out your credit card number online unless the site is a secure and reputable site. Before using the site, check out the security software it uses. Send them e-mail to see if they have an active e-mail adress and check if they are legitimate.
An other form of fraud is investment fraud. To avoid this one don't invest in anything based on appearances. Just because a company has a flashy web site it doesn't mean it is legitimate. Don't invest in anything you are not absolutely sure about.
What is more, if you want to avoid business fraud, purchase merchandise from the company that holds the trademark, copyright, or patent.
Finally, there are some points how to avoid the Nigerian letter scam. Be skeptical of individuals representing themselves as Nigerian or foreign government officials asking for your help in placing large sums of money in overseas bank accounts. Do not believe the promise of large sums of money for your cooperation.
In conclusion, you should always think twice before you invest your money in any opportunity you learn about through the Internet. If you think you've become a victim of internet fraud, act immediately to minimize the damage to your personal funds and financial accounts, as well as your reputation.

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