TradeSafe Tips

Preventing Internet Fraud

Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
The IC3 is a partnership between the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C). The information presented below was taken directly from the IC3 website: www.IC3.gov. The mission of the IC3 is to combat fraud committed over the Internet. The organization strives to:

- Develop a national strategy to address fraud over the internet,
- Collect, manage and disseminate fraud complaint information to aid preventive and investigative efforts
- Provide law enforcement and regulatory agencies with analytical data to identify and address new fraud trends and help stem the rise of Internet fraud
- Provide a mechanism for reporting fraud on the Internet
- Ensure that Internet fraud complaints are directed to the appropriate law enforcement and regulatory agencies.

Business Fraud

• Purchase merchandise from reputable dealers or establishments.
• Try to obtain a physical address rather than merely a post office box and a phone number, call the seller to see if the number is correct and working.
• Consider not purchasing from sellers who won't provide you with detailed contact information.
• Purchase merchandise directly from the individual/company that holds the trademark, copyright, or patent.
• Beware when responding to e-mail that may not have been sent by a reputable company.
  
  

Non-Delivery of Merchandise

• Make sure you are purchasing merchandise from a reputable source.
• Do your homework on the individual or company to ensure that they are legitimate.
• Try to obtain a physical address rather than merely a post office box and a phone number, call the seller to see if the number is correct and working.
• Consider not purchasing from sellers who won't provide you with detailed contact information.
• Check with the Better Business Bureau from the seller’s area.
• Check out other web sites regarding this person/company. Don’t judge a person/company by their web site.
• Be cautious when responding to special offers (especially through unsolicited e-mail).
• Be extra cautious when dealing with individuals/companies from outside your own country.
• Inquire about returns and warranties.
• Make sure the transaction is secure when you electronically send your credit card numbers.
• Consider utilizing an escrow or alternate payment service.

Credit Card Fraud

• Don't give out your credit card number(s) online unless the site is a secure and reputable site.
• 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 might provide you 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 uses.
• Make sure you are purchasing merchandise from a reputable source.
• Do your homework on the individual or company to ensure that they are legitimate.
• Try to obtain a physical address rather than merely a post office box and a phone number, call the seller to see if the number is correct and working.
• Consider not purchasing from sellers who won't provide you with detailed contact information.
• Check with the Better Business Bureau from the seller’s area.
• Check out other web sites regarding this person/company. Don’t judge a person/company by their web site.
• Be cautious when responding to special offers (especially through unsolicited e-mail).
• Be extra cautious when dealing with individuals/companies from outside your own country.
• Make sure the transaction is secure when you electronically send your credit card numbers.
• You should also keep a list of all your credit cards and account information along with the card issuer’s contact information.
• If anything looks suspicious or you lose your credit card(s) you should contact the card issuer immediately.

Investment Fraud

• Don't invest in anything based on appearances.
• Just because an individual or company has a flashy web site doesn't mean it is legitimate. Web sites can be created in just a few days. After a short period of taking money, a site can vanish without a trace.
• Don’t invest in anything you are not absolutely sure about.
• Do your homework on the investment to ensure that it is legitimate.
• Do your homework on the individual or company to ensure that they are legitimate.
• Check out other web sites regarding this person/company. Don’t judge a person/company by their web site.
• Be cautious when responding to special investment offers (especially through unsolicited e-mail).
• Be extra cautious when dealing with individuals/companies from outside your own country.
• Inquire about all the terms and conditions.
• If it sounds too good to be true it probably is.

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. (TradeStaff: More recently, this SCAM letter format has been used by individuals from Benin, Ghana, Pakistan, Russia and other countries - none are to be trusted).
• Do not believe the promise of large sums of money for your cooperation.
• Guard your account information carefully.