Internet Fraud Prevention Tips

Internet fraud is the most common and major crimes affecting consumers online. The internet is the most convenient way for both buyers and sellers to grow their business and hence it is very easy for smart fraudsters to perform their fraudulent activities.
Here are some of the ways to prevent yourself from fraud online

Protect your personal information - Do not give away your personal or banking information (social security number ,credit card number) unless you are actually buying something seriously. Provide your social security number only when required and never provide it in response to an unsolicited email. Be careful while providing your personal details to avoid falling victim to identity theft fraud .

Be careful with unsolicited mails - Never respond to mails you receive from an unknown sender. Responding to such unknown emails may be to verify that yours is a valid email address which can further result in more illegal activities.

Verify the seller's existence - If you are purchasing items online from auction sites like eBay, check for the particular company at the local consumer protection agency and Better Business Bureau to find out whether the company actually exists and what kind of company they are. make sure to obtain a physical address of the company.

Method of payment - Be clear with the method of payment that the seller accepts and how/where the buyer is to send the payment. If you're making an online payment, make sure the site is secured.

Inquire about returns and warranty policies - Ask the seller as to when your item will be delivered. Also it is vital to inquire if there is any warranty or if you can exchange the merchandise, if there is a problem.
Shipping Costs - Find out if the shipping and delivery charges are included in the price or if you need to pay extra,

Avoid falling for high pressure sales - Fraudsters demand that you act immediately in response to a purchase by asking you to pay the money right now. They never give you time to think twice about your decision. Such activities should be avoided.

Do not wire payments before receiving item - Never allow transaction through a wire transfer as most of these transactions are fraudulent.

Pay by credit card - Credit cards are the best and the safest way to pay for online purchases. If you pay by credit card and if at all any problem arises you can dispute the charges. Care should be taken while giving away your credit card number especially via email.

Educate Yourself - Make yourself aware of common scams and fraud that takes place online.


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