http://www.fiadservices.com/fiad-services-news-release-fbi-common-schemes-internet-fraud/ FIAD Services - NEWS RELEASE - FBI C ommon Schemes - Internet FraudListed below are tips to protect yourself and your family from various forms of Internet fraud.F or information on the most common complaints and scams, see the annual reports of the Internet Crime Complaint Center, or IC3, a partnership of the FBI and the National White Collar Crime Center. Also see its information on Internet Crime Schemes and i ts Internet Crime Prevention Tips.Use our online tips form or the IC3 website to report potential cases of cyber fraud.Tips fo r Avoiding Internet Auction Fraud: Understand as much as possible about how the auction works, what your obligations are as a buyer, and what the seller's obligations are before you bid. Find out what actions the website/company takes if a problem occurs and consider insuring the transaction and shipment. Learn as much as possible about the seller, especially if the on ly information you have is an e-mail address. If it is a business, check the Better Business Bureau where the seller/business is located. Examine the feedback on the seller. Determine what method of payment the seller is asking from the buyer and w here he/she is asking to send payment. If possible, purchase items online using your credit card, because you can often disp ute the charges if something goes wrong. Be cautious when dealing with sellers outside the United States. If a problem occur s with the auction transaction, it could be much more difficult to rectify. Ask the seller about when delivery can be expect ed and whether the merchandise is covered by a warranty or can be exchanged if there is a problem. Make sure there are no un expected costs, including whether shipping and handling is included in the auction price. There should be no reason to give out your social security number or driver’s license number to the seller.Tips for Avoiding Non-Delivery of Merchandise : Make sure you are purchasing merchandise from a reputable source. Do your homework on the individual or company to ensu re that they are legitimate. Obtain a physical address rather than simply a post office box and a telephone number, and call the seller to see if the telephone number is correct and working. Send an e-mail to the seller to make sure the e-mail addr ess is active, and be wary of those that utilize free e-mail services where a credit card wasn't required to open the account. Consider not purchasing from sellers who won't provide you with this type of information. Check with the Better Business Bureau from the seller’s area. Check out other websites regarding this person/company. Don’t judge a perso n or company by their website. Flashy websites can be set up quickly. Be cautious when responding to special investment offe rs, especially through unsolicited e-mail. Be cautious when dealing with individuals/companies from outside your own country . Inquire about returns and warranties. If possible, purchase items online using your credit card, because you can often d ispute the charges if something goes wrong. Make sure the transaction is secure when you electronically send your credit car d numbers. Consider using an escrow or alternate payment service.Tips for Avoiding Credit Card Fraud: Don't give out your credit card number online unless the site is a secure and reputable. Sometimes a tiny icon of a padlock appears to symbolize a higher level of security to transmit data. This icon is not a guarantee of a secure site, but provides some assurance. Don 't trust a site just because it claims to be secure. Before using the site, check out the security/encryption software it us es. Make sure you are purchasing merchandise from a reputable source. Do your homework on the individual or company to ens ure that they are legitimate. Obtain a physical address rather than simply a post office box and a telephone number, and cal l the seller to see if the telephone number is correct and working. Send an e-mail to the seller to make sure the e-mail add ress is active, and be wary of those that utilize free e-mail services where a credit card wasn't required to open the account . Consider not purchasing from sellers who won't provide you with this type of information. Check with the Better Business Bureau from the seller’s area. Check out other websites regarding this person/company. Don’t judge a pers on or company by their website. Flashy websites can be set up quickly. Be cautious when responding to special investment off ers, especially through unsolicited e-mail. Be cautious when dealing with individuals/companies from outside your own countr y. If possible, purchase items online using your credit card, because you can often dispute the charges if something goes wr ong. Make sure the transaction is secure when you electronically send your credit card number. Keep a list of all your cre dit cards and account information along with the card issuer’s contact information. If anything looks suspicious or you lose your credit card(s), contact the card issuer immediately.Tips for Avoiding Investment Fraud: Don’t judge a person or company by their website. Flashy websites can be set up quickly. Don’t invest in anything you are not ab solutely sure about. Do your homework on the investment and the company to ensure that they are legitimate. Check out other websites regarding this person/company. Be cautious when responding to special investment offers, especially through unsolic ited e-mail. Be cautious when dealing with individuals/companies from outside your own country. Inquire about all the term s and conditions.Tips for Avoiding Business Fraud: Purchase merchandise from reputable dealers or establishments. Obtain a physical address rather than simply a post office box and a telephone number, and call the seller to see if the telephone nu mber is correct and working. Send an e-mail to the seller to make sure the e-mail address is active, and be wary of those th at utilize free e-mail services where a credit card wasn't required to open the account. Consider not purchasing from seller s who won't provide you with this type of information. Purchase merchandise directly from the individual/company that holds the trademark, copyright, or patent.Tips for Avoiding the Nigerian Letter or “419” Fraud: Be skeptical of i ndividuals representing themselves as Nigerian or foreign government officials asking for your help in placing large sums of m oney in overseas bank accounts. Do not believe the promise of large sums of money for your cooperation. Guard your account information carefully.For more details, see the Nigerian Letter Scam description on our Common Fraud Schemes webpage. Pe ople who viewed this page also viewed – Our Service – Our Team – Contact Us