Common Internet Scams
Most internet transactions are perfectly legitimate yet there are occassional reports of fraud or scams. There isn't a single, surefire way to identify fraudulent sellers or buyers. However, we've listed some of the warning signs of fraud below. Please note that none of these signs is a definitive indicator of a fraudulent seller. They are factors to help you identify high-risk transactions. Likewise, there is no guarantee that if a seller does not meet any of these criteria, it's a legitimate seller. If you are suspicious, it's a good idea to do some research. It is very important to remember that if something doesn't seem right, it probably isn't.
Warning Signs
Buyers who claim to be traveling abroad and offer to have their "agent", "business associate", "friend", or "shipper" complete the transaction. They may offer to pay by Cashiers Check for over the amount. This 'buyer' will claim to be trusting you to return the overage of funds. Banks will often cash these checks then hold you accountable for the funds once the check fails to clear.
Sellers who insist that you use Western Union or other money transfer services.
Sellers who reside in distant countries. Sellers that request money to be wired to Romania, Ukraine, Macedonia, Belarus, Pakistan, Russia, Lithuania, Egypt, Lagos, Nigeria, Colombia, Malaysia, Indonesia or Cameroon. tend to have a very high incidence of fraud. Unless you have a lot experience with international orders, you may want to decline to send money to these countries.
Sellers offering a Dog significantly below market value. This is often a scam to engage many people to send money for this non-exsistent dog. You will never receive the dog.
Sellers who request that a "shipper" be paid directly or sellers that state the Dog will be delivered directly to your door or destination. All Dogs shipped via an airplane must be picked up at the airport.
Sellers who state that you must send additional funds to get the Dog through customs.
Seller insists that you use an online escrow service other than Escrow.com. Before using any escrow service verify the company with the Better Business Bureau to insure the business has a satisfactory record.
Who should I notify if I suspect fraud?
Contact NextDayPets.com and the FTC.
FTC toll free hotline: 877-FTC-HELP (877-382-4357)
FTC online complaint form (www.ftc.gov)
Internet Fraud Complaint Center (www.ifccfbi.gov)
Internet Crime Complaint Center (http://www.ic3.gov/)
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
Sunday, June 25, 2006
Charity Folks | Online Auction | Terms and Definitions
Safety Tips from Charity Folks
We want your online experience to be enjoyable and worry free. Bidding to Give, Shopping and Banking online can be convenient and secure -- if you take a few simple precautions. Many e-commerce websites utilize state-of-the-art encryption and other security procedures to safeguard you and your money.
Here are a few suggestions to help you have a secure online experience:
If you suspect a website is not what it purports to be, leave the site. Do not follow any of the instructions it may present you.
Ask yourself if the information you are asked to provide makes sense for the activity you are engaged in.
If a site or e-mail asks for information that does not feel right, do not respond.
If you believe that someone is trying to commit fraud by pretending to be Charity Folks, please contact us immediately.
Be alert for scam e-mails. These may appear to come from a trusted business or friend, but actually are designed to trick you into downloading a virus or jumping to a fraudulent website and disclosing sensitive information.
Open e-mails only when you know the sender. Be especially careful about opening an e-mail with an attachment. Even a friend may accidentally send an e-mail with a virus.
Be careful before you click on a link that is contained in an e-mail or other message. The link may not be trustworthy.
Do not send sensitive personal or financial information unless it is encrypted on a secure website. Regular e-mails are not encrypted.
Do business only with companies you know and trust.
Be aware! Phony "look alike" websites are designed to trick consumers and collect their personal information. Make sure that websites on which you transact business post privacy and security statements and review them carefully.
Verify the address of every website, known as the URL. Make sure that the URL you want appears in the "address" or "location" box on your browser window. Some websites may appear to be legitimate but actually are counterfeits. Take a few extra seconds and type the URL yourself.
Look for the padlock symbol at the bottom of the browser window to ensure the site is running in secure mode BEFORE you input sensitive information.
Use strong passwords for your accounts. Choose passwords that are difficult for others to guess, and use a different password for each of your accounts. Use both letters and numbers and a combination of lower case and capital letters as your password is case sensitive.
Make sure your home computer has the most current anti-virus software. Anti-virus software needs frequent updates to guard against new viruses. Make sure you download the anti-virus updates as soon as you are notified that a download is available.
Install a personal firewall to help prevent unauthorized access to your home computer, especially if you connect through a cable or DSL modem.
Log off. Do not just close your browser.
Monitor your transactions. Review your order confirmations, credit card, and bank statements as soon as you receive them to make sure that you are being charged only for transactions you made.
Immediately report any irregularities.
For additional tips on online security see the following websites:
http://www.bbb.org/alerts/Computer.asp
http://iisw.cerias.purdue.edu/home_computing/
We want your online experience to be enjoyable and worry free. Bidding to Give, Shopping and Banking online can be convenient and secure -- if you take a few simple precautions. Many e-commerce websites utilize state-of-the-art encryption and other security procedures to safeguard you and your money.
Here are a few suggestions to help you have a secure online experience:
If you suspect a website is not what it purports to be, leave the site. Do not follow any of the instructions it may present you.
Ask yourself if the information you are asked to provide makes sense for the activity you are engaged in.
If a site or e-mail asks for information that does not feel right, do not respond.
If you believe that someone is trying to commit fraud by pretending to be Charity Folks, please contact us immediately.
Be alert for scam e-mails. These may appear to come from a trusted business or friend, but actually are designed to trick you into downloading a virus or jumping to a fraudulent website and disclosing sensitive information.
Open e-mails only when you know the sender. Be especially careful about opening an e-mail with an attachment. Even a friend may accidentally send an e-mail with a virus.
Be careful before you click on a link that is contained in an e-mail or other message. The link may not be trustworthy.
Do not send sensitive personal or financial information unless it is encrypted on a secure website. Regular e-mails are not encrypted.
Do business only with companies you know and trust.
Be aware! Phony "look alike" websites are designed to trick consumers and collect their personal information. Make sure that websites on which you transact business post privacy and security statements and review them carefully.
Verify the address of every website, known as the URL. Make sure that the URL you want appears in the "address" or "location" box on your browser window. Some websites may appear to be legitimate but actually are counterfeits. Take a few extra seconds and type the URL yourself.
Look for the padlock symbol at the bottom of the browser window to ensure the site is running in secure mode BEFORE you input sensitive information.
Use strong passwords for your accounts. Choose passwords that are difficult for others to guess, and use a different password for each of your accounts. Use both letters and numbers and a combination of lower case and capital letters as your password is case sensitive.
Make sure your home computer has the most current anti-virus software. Anti-virus software needs frequent updates to guard against new viruses. Make sure you download the anti-virus updates as soon as you are notified that a download is available.
Install a personal firewall to help prevent unauthorized access to your home computer, especially if you connect through a cable or DSL modem.
Log off. Do not just close your browser.
Monitor your transactions. Review your order confirmations, credit card, and bank statements as soon as you receive them to make sure that you are being charged only for transactions you made.
Immediately report any irregularities.
For additional tips on online security see the following websites:
http://www.bbb.org/alerts/Computer.asp
http://iisw.cerias.purdue.edu/home_computing/
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