Internet Scam Prevention Guideline and Advice

by ISOG

Internet Scam Prevention Guideline and Advice.

In Western Europe, traditional commerce is facing a decrease in sales whereas online commerce is booming thanks to successful web sites like eBay and many others. As a consequence the number of scams and frauds over the Internet is increasing also because several electronic payment systems do not really help those who have been scammed.

Internet scammers are more and more sophisticated, thus online buyers have to take all the necessary precautions in order to avoid being victim of a scam.

This Internet scam prevention guideline and advice might help you stay alert and shop safely.

  • Do not assume a credible-looking Web site is credible. Anyone can create a Web site that looks legitimate.
  • An old financial cliché that has been around much longer than the Internet applies to Web deals, too: If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
  • Be cautious of unsolicited emails and phone calls: many are fraudulent.
  • Be wary of anyone who asks for personal information. Do not give out any information to a person, business or Web site you have not verified with a reputable source.
  • Your identity numbers should not be necessary unless you are applying for credit. Do not give it out.
  • Be suspicious of anyone who contacts you and claims to be from a company with whom you have an account like a bank, credit card or phone company. If they ask for information that the business already has, do not give it to them. Call the company independently, using the contact information on your statement or from the official Web site.
  • Do not respond to offers that demand you act immediately.
  • Legitimate charitable causes do not need to telephone or email to solicit donations or obtain passwords to accept donations. Do not respond to these offers or pleas for help.
  • Do not follow the unsubscribe instructions in unsolicited email. In many cases, it only verifies your email address and then you will get even more junk e-mail.
  • E-mail addresses or Web addresses that have a company name in the address are not necessarily from that company. Go to the official Web site for contact information.
  • Do not open email attachments from unfamiliar sources. They could contain malicious programs designed to steal your personal information.
  • Watch out for pop-up windows asking you to enter in financial data. Legitimate companies won’t require you to submit sensitive information this way.
  • Keep your computer protected. Having anti-virus software is great, but you also need anti-spam and spyware protection to keep scams and computer intruders at bay. Utilize and update your firewall.
  • Watch out for online job advertisements that read like get-rich-quick schemes. Think about it. No company wants to pay a lot of money for someone with no experience to do easy work.
  • Complicate your passwords. Don’t use a word or number easy to guess, such as your significant other’s name or birthday and change them frequently.

If you are not sure about the legitimacy of the Website you are about to shop on or you have been scammed, get in touch with ISOG private investigators, private detectives, lawyers and attorneys at law who will provide you with professional advice. ISOG supports its clients around the world and help them recover the money they have been scammed.

To avoid being scammed, follow the Internet scam prevention guideline and advice.