Home Internet fraud
Posted on 28 August 2006.
Online auctions
Online auctions are still the most popular place for frauders. Delivering something different or not delivering at all or the most popular tricks. Another trick is shilling, here the price of a product is increased by friends of the seller.
But how do you prevent problems? Use only auction site with a good reputation. Read the documentation before you bid. Try to get more information about the seller identity. Also take a look at his reputation, most auction sites use some form of point system. If its about real expensive items, you can use escrow service: you pay the money to the service, who pays the seller only when you recived and checked the item.
If you still become the victim of fraud, you should inform the organization of the site so they can take measurements.
Nigerian advance fee scam
One of the popular scam technic has its roots in Nigeria. You get a friendly email from a foreign person who claims to be a representing of a rich foreign family that offers you a financial interesting proposal. The family has some million dollar's on the bank, but can for same vague reason not access it. So they ask your help, for a percentage of the total amount. So far, no problem. More, you'll get some "official" documents and even a phone call or a email from a "person of the bank". But then the trick, to clear the last legal problems you have to pay a certain amount. When you do that your contact is gone, the story is made up and the "official" documents are false.
But what do you do when you get such a email? Simple you don't answer it. If you do you'll be the popular target for frauders. Don't ever go meet them personally. Those meetings will be in there country and they'll try to get even more money, under threat.
You can report the email, but the chance that the frauders are tract and convicted is small.
Foreign numbers
A popular trick in the porno-and entertainment industry are special call-programs. In short, you'll get to see some free pictures and movies if you first install a special viewer or browser - read: a program that breaks your current connections and then (without warning) connects to expensive foreign connections.
The trick is still in a gray area, cause there is always, somewhere in small letters that the client accept this when they install the software.
Work at home and business proposals
Another form of internet fraud are "get-rich-quick" proposals, who are financial so interesting that you can't refuse. Usually they give you a long and explanation. Then they ask you for a small investment that will give you a huge return. Traditional there are a lot of previous clients that tell you how easy it is and how fast you earn money. When you pay the money, it disappears.
Always be care full with proposals that promise a lot, if it sounds to good to be true, it usually is. If you still want to join such a program, get a written contract that you read before you sign.
Credit card fraude
The porn-industry has also a bad reputation. The honest providers see there reputation being destroyed by a large number of fogy activities. One best known tricks is to get credit card data by offering pornographic material. In short: you only have to enter your credit card data to "verify your age". They press on the point that you don't have to pay anything, the credit card data is only used to prevent minors from viewing pornographic material. In the best cade you become a paying member of the site or you card is used to buy other things. So only give your credit card data to sites with a clear privacy-policy.
Online gambling
Most casinos work on a legal way, but some don't. So before you gamble you should check some things: contact information, is the software checked by a independent source, how is the pay out handled, and so on. For more information check http://casino.ipfox.com.
Fast divorce
The most bizarre internet fraud is probably a fast divorce procedure in a foreign country. You don't even have to leave your country, just pay $1000 and the papers are send to you. Of course the papers are false, if you get them. Before you do such things, check with the necessary government service.
