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y"> The number may seem grim for Web-based commerce. In 2004 in the Unites States alone, computer users logged in more than 207,000 Internet fraud reports to the U.S. Internet Crime Complaint Center. If you look hard at this number, you may be astounded, and a good bit frightened, by the implication. You may ask, "Is it really safe to buy and sell at an online site?" Put simply, the answer is: yes. The Internet is an incredibly powerful tool for business, so you can't pass it over just because of a few crooks and conmen--even if they do seem like they're behind every pop-up window and banner ad. The truth is that you can create opportunity and make more money online than you could lose[..]

Susan Littlegate has been a victim of online fraud not once but twice. In September last year her debit card was used in bank fraud transactions in Brazil, on the over side of the world. Luckily her bank spotted the irregularity of the transaction and cancelled it. The second time she was simply online shopping when her bank card was refused. Upon checking her bank statement her balance had been wiped to zero – her card had been ‘cloned’ and her bank account emptied. When these situations occur it can be devastating. After Susan’s second experience of bank card online fraud it took well over a month for her bank to retrieve the money, resulting in finance charges for her unpaid[..]

The advent of the internet has resulted in a whole new set of fraud related problems for the banking industry. In the past the issues resolved around, cash machines, credit cards and bounced cheques. The result, the cheque clearing process became longer. The new 2-4-6 cheque clearing rules reflect the fact that the problem with banking fraud has switched from cheques to online. The banks in the UK have quietly passed an amendment to the online banking code that could result in less protection for their online customers. The subtle change is the incorporation of a new clause 12.13. This clause states that "Unless you have acted fraudulently or without reasonable care (for example, by not[..]

The last few years saw an increase in the number of online scams and frauds. This happens due to the ignorance among Internet users on how to save themselves from fraudsters. Many people still don’t know that with the help of a WHOIS web service they can protect themselves from online fraud. Not only that, this service also safeguards public interest and helps to comply with the relevant laws. But the question is how? WHOIS services are used to check the registration and ownership information of any domain. WHOIS is basically a response/query protocol using which information regarding IP address, domain name, and an autonomous system number can be extracted from databases. Normally[..]

Article excerpted from the new book, “How to Do Space Age Work with a Stone Age Brain” TM copyright 2004, all rights reserved, by Eve Abbott, the Organizer Extraordinaire Each year billions of dollars in credit fraud is perpetrated on unsuspecting citizens. With so much personal information publicly available (or easily available to someone with medium computing skills) it is essential to develop good habits to prevent your information from falling into criminal hands. It is possible for someone to create an entire identity (get driver's license, etc.) based on just a few pieces of information. I know of an employee who sustained an on-the-job injury then applied for disability. He was[..]

In May 2008 Computing SA estimated that "cybercrime is worth tens of billions of dollars a year and is now, by some estimates, larger than the drug trafficking trade." Many of us have received emails from people attempting to defraud us. If you haven't – you will. You need to be on guard so that you don't lose everything you have to these criminals. While there are a multitude of possibilities when it comes to internet fraud we'll focus one of the big ones today. The 419 scam is an advance fee fraud. The target is encouraged to advance a relatively small fee with the expectation they will ultimately received a much larger amount of money. Insa Nolte, a lecturer at the University[..]

A new wrinkle on an old scam is currently appearing on the Internet and in local newspapers throughout North America and is costing pet lovers hundreds of dollars. Pet adoption notices are appearing in classified ads online and in print and when pet lovers respond to the ads and wire money, no pets are shipped and the victim usually loses anywhere from $100 to $1000 or more. These scams are especially effective due to the almost universal appeal of pets and people's willingness to help others in a tough situation, but as the old saying goes, 'Let the buyer beware.' How the Pet Shipping Scams Work A pet lover sees an ad somewhere offering a pet for an unusually low price because the pet[..]

The Internet is a great place to get information, shop, do business, communicate, etc., but it can also be a dangerous environment. Internet fraud is very prevalent at this time; millions of Internet users fall victim to acts of fraud each year. Internet fraud crimes fall into several categories: pharmacy (fake or diluted medicine), identity (use of your name, address or social security number to take your money), financial (offenses that result in a financial loss), auction (failure to deliver the purchased item), sweepstakes/lottery (promotions that require you to pay to play or to receive your winnings), counterfeit payments (fake cashier's checks or money orders), and software piracy[..]

When it comes to reporting Internet scams most of us either don't have a clue who to contact or just ignore them in our email. But according to an FBI report in December 2004, nearly ten million people last year didn't ignore them and fell for the latest Internet scams. The money those victims lost totaled nearly $5 billion. That number of victims and their losses are probably much higher because several cases go unreported every year. People either don't want to admit that it happened to them or have no idea who to report it to. But that's how these thieves get away with Internet email scams for so long without getting caught. The only way to stop these con artists from operating is by[..]

Internet fraud is on the increase and many individuals are losing their hard earned cash to internet swindlers. The reason we are conned time and time again is because fraudsters are always ahead and a software to detect fraud is developed after swindlers have made a kill. But there are simple rules that you can apply to prevent being cheated off your money. When it comes to internet banking, major banks offer their customers free anti-virus software that helps reduce exposure to fraud. Such services are vital hence make use of them. It is also important to ensure you protect your password from being assessed by con-men. Avoid saving your password on your computer desktop or even asking[..]

Today became a challenge. If you have ever been scammed or had your identity stolen, you understand the frustration. First step was to go to my beloved Google and type in "report phishing." For those who may not be familiar with the term phishing, I have included the Wikipedia definition. "In the field of computer security, phishing is the criminally fraudulent process of attempting to acquire sensitive information such as usernames, passwords and credit card details by masquerading as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication. Communications purporting to be from popular social web sites, auction sites, online payment processors or IT administrators are commonly used to lure[..]

Indonesia Private Investigators have seen a dramatic rise in Indonesia dating scams and internet fraud all across Southeast Asia, mostly targeted against foreign nationals from first world developed countries such as in Europe, North America, or Australia, but also against foreign nationals from the Middle East and other parts of Asia.   Indonesia is a country known to have a high degree of fraud and corruption, and actually ranked 138th out of 160 on the NationMaster Government Corruption list, so it is especially important to be careful when conducting business or personal matters over the internet.   We strongly advise consumer customers to have a background check performed for any[..]

Desperate? You're Ripe for Internet Fraud Desperate times call for desperate measures. People can and most often will do just about anything to get themselves out of tight spots, including falling for internet scams. Heroically - miraculously even - a few of the more fortunate ones are able to fight their way back from disaster. Unfortunately, the number of those who are taken advantage of through a virtually unending variety of internet scams far outnumber the fortunate few. Sadly, these people go from mere desperation to total devastation. So what is it that causes people to continuously become victimized by internet scams? Con artists know all too well that their marks are easily[..]

When it comes to identity theft, credit card numbers and bank account information stolen through electronic means is becoming more popular than the traditional check fraud schemes. It seems that there is a new press release every day indicating a corporation has had customers' financial information stolen. Check forgeries and alterations, however, are still a problem in the banking world and an issue that consumers should be aware of. Especially in difficult economic times, the loss or theft and cashing of a single check can cause enormous financial difficulties for a family. Even if the money is eventually recredited back to the banking customers, the time period in which it takes to[..]

According to surveys, the restaurant is the most likely place to lose a credit card. One of the major credit card companies determined that forty percent and that’s right 40% of credit card theft happens to dining locations more than any type of establishments. This is because people are pre-occupied with eating and talking. It gives thieves a chance not only to steal their belongings but their credit card receipt as well. We cannot say that waiters and gourmet chefs are to blame because they can easily copy your personal information, although it is possible. It is important to consider the technology available as well as the most convenient way to steal is through it. The theft[..]

Credit card theft is one of the most dreaded situations any cardholders do want to be in. If your card has been stolen, you need to take swift action. The first thing you need to do is to notify your card company of the situation, immediately. The sooner you report the loss, the less likely it is that you will be held liable for any fraudulent charges. Many credit companies will not hold cardholders liable for unauthorized uses as long as the situation has been reported at specified days. Some credit card companies could charge you certain amount of money if the thief used the card is not reported as stolen fast enough. On the other hand, if the thief used only the card number and not[..]

Credit card identity theft can be a very costly problem. In today's world of increasing credit card usage, it is no longer a rare instance where a criminal may be able to make use of your credit card for his own gain. He does not need to have your "plastic" in order to commit such a crime. All he needs will be your number and your personal information. Such a crime has been known as identity theft. Credit card identity theft can happen in a variety of ways. Almost everyone using a credit card can be an unwilling victim. With all business and financial transactions done through computers and online means, it has made information very valuable as well as very vulnerable to theft. Your[..]

Phishing has become a common term these days and everyone is scared of it. People, who are into phishing, mainly target banks and credit card companies. Phishing is a phenomenon where a person trying to fraud the customers poses as a bank or an online financial institution and gathers personal information. Using the personal information they can get credit card numbers and even shop online. Phishing means literally the person is fishing for information. You can actually easily tell the difference between phishing emails and genuine emails. First of all as a thumb rule no bank will ever send a mail to their customer with their personal data or requesting their account number. Phishing[..]

Are you taking the necessary steps to prevent credit card theft or fraud? Even if you have, there are no foolproof methods or steps that can really guarantee that you are not going to fall victim to this horrible crime. However, there are 5 easy steps you can take if you wants to prevent credit card theft in an easy ways. There are people who are probably conman out to call and trick you by asserting you have won a trip and all you must do is give them a Visa card number to reserve your spot or that folks will go through your rubbish to get bills or a Credit card invoice with your ATM card number. With all the possibilities to rob your identity you must ensure that you do all that you[..]

Overdraft protection is a system whereby a bank will cover (pay for) any outstanding charges not covered by the bank account holder's current balance. In exchange, the account holder must pay the bank a fee of $20 or more. On the surface, this sounds like a good thing. After all, the bank is "protecting" the account holder by not allowing his or her charges to be rejected or to have checks bounce. However, many critics believe that overdraft protection programs are just a cleverly-disguised way for banks to make more money. And, they could be right: in recent years, banks have been making about $25 billion in revenues annually off of overdraft fees alone! Clearly, overdraft protection is[..]

Read any major newspaper front to back or consult any major news website or blog and you won't be able to escape hearing about the gripes people have about overdraft protection programs In theory, overdraft protection is a great idea. In theory, so is communism. Trouble is, neither one works in real life the way it sounds on paper. (Sorry, Karl Marx). When the average person signs up for a new checking account, they are automatically enrolled in an overdraft protection program. Most people are not even aware that they are being enrolled in such a program because the marketing model is set up as an "opt out" option. Opt out means that you have to tell the bank employee that you do NOT[..]

Have you seen all the offers for free checking accounts? Unless you understand the true cost of a checking account, that free accountmight soon cost you more than you expected. The banking charges have increased significantly in past years, and demonstrate no signs of diminishing. According to some studies and recent market investigations, the usual price of keeping a bank checking account is currently about $200 a year. It is important to notice that, before you sign up, take a close look at the fees associated with the account, and try to estimate what it will cost, in order to be prepared for the coming expenses. You might not be able to determine it exactly, but an estimate will[..]

Banking fees certainly have been climbing over the years. Today it is common to hear about banks charging $35 for one returned check, $20 for a money transfer, $125 for a consumer loan application, and $12 per month for checking. Fortunately, some financial institutions are wising and realizing that customers do not want to over run with fees. While many of the charges I mentioned won't go away, checking account fees can if you follow a few simple rules. Minimum Balances - Most banks that charge for checking accounts do allow you to avoid fees if balances stay above a certain amount such as $1000. While you essentially forfeit $50 per year by not investing the thousand dollars in a CD,[..]

t identity theft may be the most common form of all the categories of identity theft. Apart from the fact that it is the easiest to pull off - all one needs is another person's personal information, a lax credit card company, and the guts to pretend to be somebody else. It is also highly profitable that it can already sustain a thief's certain lifestyle. These are the very reasons why everybody can be a victim of identity theft. Anyone who has a social security number and credit information are very likely to be at risk of this crime, making it really important for everyone to know a lot about identity theft in order to protect themselves. One of the most important things that you should[..]

ian, being one of the three major credit reporting agencies in the United States have also already taken part on what most people call as the battle with identity theft. So, apart from providing you your credit reports, they now have also devised ways how they can help you conduct your very own regular identity theft checks to protect you from the destructive aftermath of identity fraud. Identity theft is certainly one of the fastest growing crimes in the US, garnering of up to fifty billion dollars of revenue from its victims in a year, it is a really serious mischief that shouldn't be just permitted to go on. This is one of the reasons why Experian, as well as the other major and[..]

oring your very own accounts can be tedious for most busy individuals, aside, of course, from the fact that your access to your records is very limited. This is why, sometimes, conducting an identity theft check on your own is not enough, as some may not be brought into your attention. This is why Equifax has devised a couple of different products that can help you protect yourself from being a victim of identity theft. Here is a list of their different packages available: 1. Equifax ID Patrol. This service offers the monitoring of all three of your credit reports; alerting you of significant changes and activities on any of the accounts; monitoring of your personal information on the[..]

astest growing identity theft crime for years, credit identity theft is something no one should ever take lightly. Luckily, more and more agencies and companies are getting concerned about this crime's growth, making it bad for business and, of course, even worse for their clients. So, it is just normal to know that there are additional measures that you can do in order to protect yourself from being a victim of identity theft. One of the more common and widely publicized ways of beating identity theft is by conducting your very own identity theft check. By ordering your credit reports regularly from the different agencies and companies, you can easily execute a review of your financial[..]

t identity theft is one of the fastest rising crimes in today's society. With the country's continuous reliance on credit cards, some companies are getting more lax on their regulations on card applications in order to attract more clients - the very reason why identity thieves get to apply cards using other people's names. Luckily, measures are now being done to help individuals protect themselves from being victims of identity theft. May it be list of tips on what one should do to protect his or herself from being a victim, to offering identity theft check and protection services, it is a task for the government to protect its citizens from the damages identity theft crimes can do to a[..]

Credit fraud has always existed to some degree, but with the advent of the internet, there has been an unprecedented level of awareness and consumer concern about falling victim to identity theft. Almost every day ‘phishing’ emails – which pretend to come from banks - try to extract passwords and personal details from consumers. Most people know that an unprotected PC can be disabled by viruses and Trojans within hours and install antivirus software to protect it, but not everyone remembers to keep the antivirus software up to date. Tightening up on internet security is absolutely essential as a first defence to identity theft attempts. As an alarm system, it’s equally[..]

Do you have a pretty good or even outstanding credit history? If so, you no doubt have worked hard to first achieve it and then maintain it. Your good credit report is a valuable asset; it allows you to make purchases with good loan terms, rent homes without any trouble, get the best car and health insurance rates, and so on. This being the case, you should really take measures to protect your credit identity. Credit identity theft is one of the fastest growing types of crime in the world, and especially in the United States, and although it is not violent in nature, there is nothing insignificant about being the victim of credit identity theft. It can ruin your good name, cause you[..]