If It Looks Too Good To Be True, It Probably Is

 

 If something appears to be too good to be true, it almost certainly is.

In today's virtual culture, internet fraudsters are always coming up with new methods of reaching unwary consumers. As reported by the Internet Crime Complaint Center, internet fraud is on the rise, with an increase of 67 percent from 2003 to 2004. The best defense against these cyber thieves is to be aware of their presence.



According to Marcel Legrand, Senior Vice President of Strategy and Corporate Development at Monster, "the most effective technique to combating Internet fraud is to always be one step ahead of fraudsters."



Here are a few examples of common con artists:



• According to the Federal Trade Commission, fraudulent internet sales are the most common source of consumer fraud complaints. The things sent by fraudulent merchants are of inferior value, stolen or counterfeit, or they are simply not delivered at all–all while your money is still in their possession.



To avoid scams, check the seller's reputation with the Better Business Bureau, read all of the fine language involved with the transaction, and make your payment using an established online payment system.



• Phishing is the practice of criminals sending online communications to Internet users in the form of an e-mail or pop-up message purporting to be from a legitimate company. The notification may have faults and request an account update in order to entice users into disclosing their personal information to third parties.



Avoid clicking on links supplied in questionable e-mails as a general rule. The simple act of clicking on a link can result in the introduction of viruses into your computer. Instead, contact the company or visit their website to get the most up-to-date information.



The most common types of job scams are those that advertise "work from home" opportunities, with the promise of easy money while you "create your own hours" or "be your own boss." Some of these con artists require prospective employees to supply personal information, make a down payment, or cash foreign checks, in exchange for the promise of a percentage of the transaction's proceeds.



The "Be Safe" website (http://help.monster.com/besafe) advises job seekers to never disclose personal information over the internet unless they are certain that the other party is who they claim to be. Tip: Employment chances that require serving as a middleman in money transfers should also be avoided, according to the FTC's guidelines. Perform background checks on potential employers before entering into any financial transactions or sharing personal information.