Internet fraud has raised the suspicions of millions of consumers of safety of buying over the internet. This prudent behaviour might protect them against the risks of suffering becoming victims of fraud, but at the same time it reduces the market which is available to genuine and boni fidi traders who see starting an internet business as their new future.
When purchasing online, it is not possible to guarantee the internet fraud will not occur. Similar to computer viruses, just as measures are introduced to combat a particular treat, the perpetrators find new ways to circumvent the increased in security.
Always Use a Credit Card
Most, if not all credit cards permit the user to recharge any amounts paid in the event that the items purchased are not received or are of substandard quality. In these cases a simple form supplied to the credit card company usually results in all monies being returned to the purchaser whilst the business is pursued for the funds.
Using a credit card therefore provides security for the buyer so that in the event that they fall victim of internet fraud, the credit card company will take up the chase to recover funds and the success or failure of these proceeding with not affect the purchaser.
Never Answer Email from Banks
A spate of recent bogus emails purporting to be from banks have been circulating, all of which request that the user click on a link and confirm their personal details. Although all of these emails are fraudulent, the ones which are easiest to spot are those from a bank where the recipient does not have an account.
Clicking on a hypertext link and entering personal information is not wise and it is far better and less risky to visit the banks official website and verify that any updates to private details are in fact a authorised request.
Do not Send Cash
The saying “cash is king” has no place in modern in combating modern internet fraud. The stories we have all read about people sending hundreds of pound through the post in order to snap up a bargain seen on eBay lead us to wonder whether some people are in fact adopting appropriate behaviour to guard against business internet fraud.
Consider that if you sending cash for a new plasma television because it is cheap and you have seen a picture of it, then could not twenty of so other people be doing the same thing for the same piece of equipment.
Document Shredding
A simple exercise of document shredding can help to keep private information secure. A significant proportion of internet and identity fraud starts when personal details are gleaned from information thrown in dustbins. It might then be weeks or even months before this information is used to make a purchase or to obtain credit from a business.
It could be even many more months before the illegal act is noticed, by which time substantial damage might have already been inflicted and the criminals disappeared.
Document shredding not only provides a bundle of confetti apt for recycling, it also ensures that anyone wishing to use any personal information contained in the mixed strands of paper would have to be a Police forensic standard in order to achieve this.
Exercising commonsense will also be the best defence against internet fraud whether committed by a business or individuals. The rule of thumb has to be “if in doubt, do not act” and whilst it might never be possible to reduce the risks to zero, simple diligence and an inquisitive mind might help avoid loss and reduce the chances of becoming one of a growing number of internet fraud victims.