Protect yourself from Internet scams
guest editorial
david shoar
st. johns county sheriff
The Internet is a fascinating place to work, play and learn for both adults and children alike. But we should also be aware of the risks we face while being online.
Internet crime seems limitless, and it may very well be. We hear daily that there are new scams and cons appearing in e-mails or on the web from people trying to get our money. I am hopeful that the information contained in this column will enlighten you and get you the resources you may need on matters pertaining to the Internet and computer crimes.
The total loss of reported Internet fraud nationally for 2009 was nearly $560 million. That’s up from $264 million for all of 2008.
The following are a few examples of types of Internet fraud: Sales via unsolicited e-mails, newsgroup postings, chat room discussions, Web sites and online classified advertisements for everything from T-shirts to toys, calendars and collectibles. The merchandise was not delivered, arrived in damaged condition, was defective or was misrepresented.
Don’t buy from a company online whose reputation is unknown. You should use care on offers through Internet auction Web sites that are unknown where the sellers never delivered the items or misrepresented their value. They also could use what are termed as "Shills" to drive up bids and sellers have been known to raise prices after the highest bids were made.
Another common fraudulent scheme is the Nigerian letter or something similar. The letter states that you are named in a will or there is a large amount of money that needs to be removed from a foreign country. They ask for personal financial institution information under the guise of depositing money into your account. They then use this information to access your account and withdrawal money instead.
You might also receive a check unsolicited claiming that you are a sweepstakes winner and you are asked to deposit the check. Then you are asked to send a portion of that check back and after doing so, you find out that the original check was a fraud and you are out the money that you send to them.
Please remember the following: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Just receiving one of these letters is not a crime in and of itself. Criminals send out thousands of these letters a day hoping someone responds. However, obtaining money fraudulently is a crime and should be reported.
The following are some tips to help you to possibly avoid being a victim of Internet fraud.
Only do business with those you know and trust.
Be sure you know who the company or person is and where it is physically located. Understand the offer.
Look carefully at the information about the products or services offered, and ask for additional information, if needed. A legitimate business will be glad to provide it; a fraudulent telemarketer won’t.
Be sure you know what is being sold, the total price, the delivery date, the return and cancellation policy, and the terms of any guarantee.
Check out the company’s or individual’s track record. Call to check for complaint records with consumer agencies and the Better Business Bureau. Keep in mind that fraud artists can appear and disappear quickly, especially in cyberspace, so the lack of a complaint record is no guarantee of legitimacy.
Never give your bank account numbers, credit card numbers or other personal information to anyone you don’t know or haven’t checked out. And don’t provide information that isn’t necessary to make a purchase. Take your time. While there may be time limits for special offers, high-pressure sales tactics are often danger signs of fraud.
Don’t judge reliability by how nice or flashy a web site may seem. Anyone can create, register, and promote a web site; it’s relatively easy and inexpensive. And just like any other forms of advertising, you can’t assume that someone has screened and approved it.
Know that people in cyberspace may not always be what they seem. Someone who is sharing a friendly tip about a moneymaking scheme or great bargain in a chat room or on a bulletin board may have an ulterior motive: to make money. Remember sometimes friendly people are crooks.
Finally, don’t click on an attachment from someone you don’t know or was unsolicited. Harmful viruses can be triggered by clicking on an attachment without your knowledge that could wipe out your computer files or even hijack your Internet service, reconnecting you through an international phone number, resulting in enormous phone charges.
If you are a victim of Internet fraud, you can file a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov, or with the National Fraud Information Center at www.fraud.org/info/contactnfic.htm
You can also file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau at www.bbb.org, and you can always file a report with your local law enforcement agency.
I hope that these tips will help you have a good and useful experience with the World Wide Web. For additional tips on Internet Safety as well as general crime prevention, please go to the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office website at www.sjso.org
There is a world of information available and please feel free to contact me anytime at my e-mail address at dshoar@sjso.org