Fraud
against consumers is not unique to the internet. Fraudulent
business practices have been the cause of millions of lost dollars
throughout history. Online auction sites have the highest incidence
of complaints by consumers, each alleging one type of fraud
or another. The simplest form of fraud regarding online auctions
is for sellers to advertise top-quality items for sale, and
upon receiving the items consumers discover that the items are
not of the quality advertised, or consumers never receive anything
at all after paying for the items.
There
is also a high instance of fraud for offers promising you can
work from home and make thousands of dollars very quickly. Consumers
are generally required to send money in advance, which can range
from $25 to hundreds of dollars, and the information they get
in return is of no value at all, or requires an investment of
thousands of dollars. Quick divorces are often used as a means
of getting fast money from computer users. These web sites offer
a fast, and in some cases immediate, divorce in a foreign country.
Consumers have paid thousands of dollars for the divorces, only
to find that they were never divorced at all.
When
shopping online or participating in online auctions, make sure
the site owners have the proper credentials, are well-known
in the internet community, and have a system in place to rate
buyers and sellers in online auctions. Be very cautious of online
auctions offering rare or collectible items. Sellers should
be able to provide you with some form of authenticity verification
on any item they wish to auction. Consumers should shop online
from companies that have actual locations rather than just web
sites alone. Make sure you check feedback and for individuals
conducting online auctions and that the e-stores you shop are
an extension of a well-known retailer. It is also a good idea
to make online purchases with your credit card so that you will
have a way to trace any transactions you make.
|
