How to Avoid Internet Fraud

Many of the same types of scams that use the phone or mail can now be found on the Internet, so be careful with whom you do business in cyberspace.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Internet Access
• Computers
• Anti-spam Softwares
• Anti-virus Softwares
• Blocking Software

1. Buy from the companies you know and trust.

2. Use the Internet to research a company's history. You can find a lot of information on the corporate Web site.

3. Check epinions.com for ratings and reviews by other consumers before you buy.

4. Guard your personal information. Give your credit card number only if you are making a purchase, never to verify your identity.

5. Refuse to give out your Social Security number unless you are applying for credit or employment.

6. Pay by credit card. You can dispute charges through the credit card issuer if you have problems later.

7. Be aware that there are differences between sales by an individual and sales by a business. Your legal rights may differ based on whether the seller is an individual or a business. You may have difficulty pursuing your complaint against an individual if the merchandise was misrepresented, broken (defective) or never delivered.

8. Avoid judging reliability by how nice or polished a Web site seems. It is relatively easy and inexpensive for anyone to create, register and promote a Web site.

9. Avoid downloading programs just to see pictures, listen to music or get access to other features from Web sites with which you are unfamiliar. You could end up downloading a computer virus that wipes out your computer files.