| The facts and figures from Symantec | | | | previous negative feedback. Use common |
| Security Response and the Internet Crime | | | | sense when assessing the method of |
| Complaint Center are both fascinating | | | | payment. Be cautious and aware of laws |
| and alarming. If you have thought about | | | | governing sellers is other countries, |
| buying or selling on the Internet, | | | | international sales may have a dubious |
| especially with Internet Auction Sites, | | | | outcome Ask for written confirmation |
| make sure that you are aware of the best | | | | regarding expected delivery and warranty |
| practices and the potential pitfalls | | | | or exchange return options To avoid |
| before you do. An identity is a terrible | | | | unexpected costs, find out if shipping |
| thing to waste. How much for your | | | | and delivery are included or additional |
| identity? According to a Blog from | | | | cost Never give out your Social Security |
| Symantec Security Response, the | | | | Number, Driver's License Number, Bank |
| following is the cost for your identity | | | | Account Numbers or personal information |
| on the black market $14-18 for your | | | | to the seller, they do not need it Be |
| complete identity $1-6 for a US Credit | | | | very cautious of special offers that |
| Card $2-12 for a UK Credit Card $10 for | | | | arrive by unsolicited email, you are |
| a World of Warcraft Account Internet | | | | typically better to delete these without |
| Crime Complaint Center The Internet | | | | opening them, especially if there are |
| Crime Complaint Center (IC3) was | | | | attached files Do not give your credit |
| established as a partnership between the | | | | card information over the phone Do not |
| National White Collar Crime Center | | | | make purchases online if you are using |
| (NW3C) and the Federal Bureau of | | | | an unsecured wireless access point If |
| Investigation (FBI) to receive, develop | | | | you are a victim of fraud, report it to |
| and refer criminal complaints regarding | | | | your credit card companies and to the |
| the rapidly expanding arena of cyber | | | | authorities immediately Best Practice to |
| crime. IC3 released the sixth annual | | | | Sell on Internet Auction Sites Take a |
| compilation of complaints received and | | | | little time to understand how Internet |
| referred to law enforcement or | | | | Auctions work and what your obligations |
| regulatory agencies for appropriate | | | | are as a seller. Use secure web sites. |
| action. The following statistics are | | | | If you sell from your own web site, then |
| based on the IC3 2006 Annual Report | | | | investigate how to offer secure credit |
| Complaint submissions decreased by | | | | card transactions Publicly list the |
| 10.4%, from 231,493 in 2005 to 207,492 | | | | actions that you will take to insure the |
| in 2006 Total Dollar Amount of reported | | | | transaction and the delivery. List |
| losses increased from $183.12 Million in | | | | contact information and street address |
| 2005 to $198.44 Million in 2006 Most | | | | if you are a business. Provide a daytime |
| Common Reason for complaints 44.9% | | | | phone number and email address for |
| Internet Auction Fraud 19.0% | | | | inquiries. Make it easy for the consumer |
| Non-Delivered Merchandise and / or | | | | to validate your authenticity. Take care |
| Payment 4.9% Check Fraud 4.8% Credit / | | | | of your customers and ask for feedback, |
| Debit Fraud Most Common Amounts of | | | | especially if the transaction resulted |
| reported loss 39.3% reported loss | | | | in a satisfactory experience. Be |
| between $100 to $1000 31.6% reported | | | | cautious and aware of laws governing |
| loss between $1000 to $5000 15.6% | | | | buyers in other countries, international |
| reported loss less than $100 Of those | | | | sales may have a dubious outcome Post |
| who reported a loss, the Average | | | | your policy regarding delivery options |
| (median) amount of the reported loss | | | | and related fees, warranty or exchange |
| $5100 Nigerian Letter Fraud $3744 Check | | | | return options, and payment terms and |
| Fraud $602 Internet Auction Fraud $585 | | | | conditions Build reciprocal links with |
| Non-Delivered Merchandise and / or | | | | other reputable merchants to establish |
| Payment $427 Credit / Debit Card Fraud | | | | your authenticity Post pictures of the |
| Most Common Methods of Contact: 73.9% | | | | merchandise Provide detailed |
| Email 36.0% Web Page 17.7% Telephone | | | | descriptions of the merchandise, |
| 12.0% Instant Messenger 10.3% Postal | | | | including specifications, features, new |
| Mail Best Practice to Buy on Internet | | | | or used, etc. Research other listings |
| Auction Sites Learn your obligations as | | | | for similar merchandise to see what |
| a buyer before you place a bid. Find out | | | | information your competitors are |
| what actions the seller will take to | | | | providing so you will have some |
| insure the transaction and the delivery. | | | | additional insight into what your |
| Research the seller, especially if the | | | | customers may need to see and compare |
| only available information is an email | | | | ________________________________________ |
| address. Check with the Better Business | | | | ______________ Words of Wisdom |
| Bureau if it is a business. Use Google | | | | "Organized crime in America takes in |
| search, Yahoo and other web sites to | | | | over forty billion dollars a year and |
| investigate the seller. Try to obtain a | | | | spends very little on office supplies." |
| physical address. Be wary if the mailing | | | | - Woody Allen "There is no den in the |
| address is a Post Office Box number. If | | | | wide world to hide a rogue. Commit a |
| there is a telephone number provided, | | | | crime and the earth is made of glass. |
| call it to make sure that it is working | | | | Commit a crime, and it seems as if a |
| and legitimate. Send an email to | | | | coat of snow fell on the ground, such as |
| validate that it is an active email | | | | reveals in the woods the track of every |
| address. Be wary of sellers that use | | | | partridge, and fox, and squirrel." - |
| free email services that do not require | | | | Ralph Waldo Emerson "The scars of others |
| a credit card to open an account. Check | | | | should teach us caution. |
| Seller history and be wary if there is | | | | |