You can help yourself prevent Internet fraud by being careful who you do business with. It’s always a good idea to check on a company’s track record with the Better Business Bureau. The presence of a current HackerSafe logo is also a good indication that the company is concerned with preventing Internet fraud.
Here is a list of the top ten Internet fraud scams as reported by the National Fraud Information Center for the period of January to December, 2005:
- Auctions: Goods are never delivered. 42% of complaints
- General Merchandise: Goods are not delivered. 32% of complaints
- Nigerian Money Offer Scam: 8% of complaints
- Fake Checks: 6% of complaints
- Lotteries: Request for payment to claim. 4% of complaints
- Advance Fee Loans: False promises. 1% of complaints
- Information/Adult Services: 1% of complaints
- Work-At-Home Plans: 1% of complaints
- Internet Access Services: 1% of complaints
- Phishing: Fake emails requesting information. 2% of complaints
What can you do protect yourself from online fraud? By using an online bill payment service such as eBillme, to make online purchases, you eliminate the need to divulge sensitive personal and financial information.
