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