How to Avoid Internet Fraud

by Dan Karas

It is a fact that the Internet has become very important in everybody’s life in this day and age. People use the Internet to do business; they use it to have fun, to connect with friends and family members, to study, and so forth. On the other hand, the World Wide Web has its dark side as well. There has always been room for Internet fraud, and this is especially true today when a vast majority of people are using the Internet on a day-to-day basis. Even though it might sound distant and impossible to you, Internet frauds are happening each and every day, and you might have even been in touch with a few fraud attempts without even being aware of it.

How to Avoid Falling Victim to Internet Fraud

First and foremost, there is one thing you will have to be aware of when it comes to Internet fraud, and it is the following: be realistic and always think twice before you do anything that doesn’t sound right to you from the beginning. The most important reason why so many Internet frauds actually have some success is the fact that people show one or more of these personality traits: they are greedy, gullible, or unrealistic. However, there are also those Internet frauds which have been designed to trick even the most careful people, but you should do everything you can to avoid at least the ones that sound too good to be true – because they actually are too good to be true.

The Most Common Types of Internet Fraud

Here is a list of some of the most common types of Internet fraud, with some valuable information about each of them:

Internet fraud with cashier’s checks – This is probably the ‘best’ type of Internet fraud, since the victim doesn’t realize they have been scammed for days, or even longer. Namely, the victim often receives a cashier’s check which they cash in at a bank, and the check is usually made out for more money than necessary, so the victim send the excess money back to the fraudster. A few days later the check bounces, and the victim has to pay all the expenses involved.
Re-shipping frauds – These scams take place all over the world, and they are all based on the same principle. Namely, the fraudster orders the goods to another address, and then asks the person to re-ship the goods. The goods are paid with stolen credit cards, so the person who re-ships the goods is later held responsible for the expenses.
Work-at-home Internet fraud – These frauds are most commonly solicited through email, and most commonly to people without a job. They promise great earning opportunities, but only after the victim pays an initial amount of money to cover some ‘basic costs’, such as materials, shipping fees, and so on. After this, the company simply disappears.

More and More Internet Fraud Attempts

As more and more people are having financial difficulties, more and more types of Internet fraud will be invented and attempted. Generally, always try to make sure you have done all the research you can when you are dealing with anyone or anything online, and never believe in anything that sounds like a scam, because in most cases it will be a scam.

How to Avoid Internet Fraud

How to Avoid Internet Fraud

How to Avoid Falling Victim to Internet Fraud

The Most Common Types of Internet Fraud

More and More Internet Fraud Attempts

Related Posts

Leave a Comment: