Ten Ways to Avoid Online Fraud Business

What to do

Know whom you are dealing.
Try to find the address of a physical seller (not a PO Box) and phone number. With Internet telephony and other Web-based technologies, it is difficult to tell where someone is calling from. Do an online search for the name and the company website and look for reviews. If people report negative experiences, you'll have to decide if the offer is worth the risk. After all, a deal is good if you get a product that actually works as promised.

Know that wiring money is like sending cash.
Con artists often insist that people wire money, especially abroad, because it is almost impossible to reverse the transaction or trace the money. Make money no wire to strangers, to sellers who insist on wire transfers for payment, or to any person claiming to be a relative or friend in an emergency situation and wants to keep the request secret.

Read your monthly statements.

Fraudsters steal account information and then hoist loads or commit crimes in your name. Dishonest merchants charge you a monthly "membership fees" and other goods or services without your permission. If you see charges you do not recognize or did not properly, contact your bank, card issuer, or any other creditor.

After a disaster, giving only to established charities.

In the aftermath of a disaster, give to a charitable organization, rather than one that arose during the night. Charities pop-up probably not the infrastructure to help in the affected areas or people, and they could be collecting money to finance illegal activities. For more gift tips, visit ftc.gov/charityfraud.

Talk to your doctor before you buy products or medical treatments.

Learn about research that supports the claims of a product - and possible risks or side effects. Also, buy prescription medications only US licensed pharmacies. Otherwise, you could end up with products that are fake, expired, mislabeled or - in short, products that could be hazardous to your health. Learn more about buying online health products.

Remember there is no sure thing in investing.

If someone contacts with low risk, high return investment opportunities, stay away. When you hear pitches that insist you act now, that guarantee large profits, which promise little or no financial risk, or that the application you send money immediately, report them to ftc.gov.

What not to do

Do not send money to someone you do not know.
No to an online seller, you've never heard - or an online love interest who asks for money. It is best to do business with sites you know and trust. If you buy items at online auctions, consider using a payment option that offers protection, such as a credit card.

If you think you have found a good deal, but you're not familiar with the company, check it out. Type the name of company or product in your favorite search engine with words such as "review", "complaint" or "scam" see what happens. - On the first page of results, and on the following pages.

Never pay the first fee for the promise of great benefit later on - whether for a loan, a job, a grant or a so-called price.

Do not accept a check to deposit money and the return wire.

By law, banks must make funds from deposited checks available within days, but the discovery of a fake check can take weeks. You are responsible for checks you deposit: If a check turns out to be a fake, you are responsible to repay the bank. No matter how compelling story, someone who pays with a check too is almost certainly a scam.

Do not respond to messages requesting personal or financial information.

It does not matter if the message comes as an email, a phone call, a text message, or an announcement. Do not click on links or call phone numbers included in the message, either. He called phishing. The scammers behind these messages trying to trick you into revealing sensitive information. If you have a message like this and you're concerned about your account status, call the number on your credit or debit card - or your statement - and check on her.

Do not play a foreign lottery.

It is illegal to play a foreign lottery. Yet the messages that tout your chances of winning a foreign lottery, or messages that claim you've won, can be tempting. Inevitably, you must pay "taxes", "fresh" or "customs duties" to collect your prize. If you need to send money to win, you win nothing. And if you send money, you will lose. You will not receive any money either, regardless of promises nor guarantees.

Report scams

If you think you've been scammed:

File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. If you are outside the US, to file a complaint econsumer.gov.
Visit ftc.gov/idtheft where you will find how to minimize the risk of identity theft.
Report scams to your state Attorney General.
If you get offers of unsolicited emails or spam, send messages to spam@uce.gov.

If you get what looks like lottery material from a foreign country through the mail, take it to your local postmaster.