| The Internet is a breeding ground for scams. Over the | | | | and ships the merchandise. A few weeks or months |
| years we've all heard horrendous stories of people | | | | later, the retailer gets a charge back from the credit |
| using thousands and even millions of dollars through | | | | card processor and loses all the money. Unfortunately, |
| Internet fraud. These shady schemes may use any | | | | they cannot get the merchandise back. |
| online service--email, chat rooms, instant messages, | | | | The best way to protect yourself from these types of |
| and websites--for their own unscrupulous purposes. | | | | schemes is to be aware of large orders coming from |
| Although the Internet can be an excellent source of | | | | other countries. Although it may seem tempting to sell |
| information for making good investments and a | | | | such a large quantity of your product, if something |
| wonderful way for entrepreneurs to start legitimate | | | | about the contact seems fishy to you, you're better |
| online businesses, it can also be a frightening place | | | | off declining the order. |
| where hackers and thieves lurk. There are a number | | | | Another common way individuals lose money on the |
| of ways scammers can bilk innocent people out of | | | | Internet is through the purchase of products and |
| money or personal information, and new ways are | | | | programs that make incredible claims, and then don't |
| developed all the time. Fortunately, when you arm | | | | deliver. Many of these appear in the form of business |
| yourself with knowledge, you can prevent Internet | | | | opportunities or work-at-home programs. These |
| fraud. | | | | fraudulent programs may promise to make millions for |
| The most common Internet fraud is the theft of | | | | an individual almost overnight if they just purchase the |
| personal information, which is often referred to as | | | | program materials, which may cost anywhere from |
| identity theft. This usually involves stealing a person's | | | | $30 to hundreds of dollars. Then, these programs just |
| credit card information or banking information. Great | | | | never deliver materials that can really be used to |
| strides have been made in recent years to prevent | | | | create a successful business. |
| these kinds of fraud. For example, most websites that | | | | Other types of work-at-home scams involve paying a |
| sell products or services use a secure server to make | | | | registration fee only to be sent information about how |
| transactions. To determine if a site is secure, look for | | | | the individual can post ads just like the one they |
| the lock icon in the bottom right-hand of your browser | | | | responded to in order to make money. Or, they might |
| screen. Also, a site that is secure uses "https" rather | | | | be sent home assembly kits that they are required to |
| than just "http" in its URL. | | | | purchase. Once they finish putting the product together, |
| It seems that a high number of fraud schemes | | | | they submit it back to the company and it is inevitably |
| originate in countries such as Nigeria, Ghana, and Egypt. | | | | rejected as sub-standard. |
| Some of these scams target small Internet retailers. | | | | Although there is a great deal of fraud on the Internet, |
| For example, one common scam coming out of | | | | this doesn't mean that there are no legitimate business |
| Nigeria involves a direct solicitation that appears to be | | | | or investment opportunities. The key to protecting |
| legitimate. The scammer, who resides in a different | | | | yourself from Internet fraud is to treat everything with |
| country from the retailer, will contact the retailer | | | | a bit of skepticism. Do your research and look for |
| seemingly to make a large purchase. The message | | | | programs that offer sound advice and reasonable |
| sent to the retailer will contain contact information and | | | | claims. Look for companies and programs with a good |
| may even include the "buyer's" credit card information. | | | | reputation and don't fall for the appeal of making |
| The seller accepts the order, charges the credit card, | | | | millions overnight. |