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The Warning signs of Online Fraud and How to avoid it
   
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The DNA Of Top Achievers
Of course by now we are all becoming aware of DNA. It is the source code that determines who we are. When we look at DNA we can see what a person will look like, what diseases they may come down with, etc. This has been a .....
Of course by now we are all becoming aware of DNA. It is the source code that determines who we are. When we look at DNA we can see what a person will look like, what diseases they may come down with, etc. This has been a .....
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 cant pass it over just
because of a few crooks and conmeneven if they do seem like
theyre 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 in fraud.
Better yet, you could lose absolutely nothing if you know the
warning signs of fraud and the tricks to avoid danger during
your Web-based business dealings.
Whether youre looking to buy or sell goods online, the
firstand the bestway to fight fraud is prevention. There are
certain warning signs to watch for, which should set off a
chorus of alarms and flashing red lights in your head. Dont do
business with this person! For buyers, these potential warning
signs can be when a seller:
asks you to pay through non-traceable avenues, such as Western
Sales Skills Are Life Skills
I love the art of selling. LOVE IT. When I first entered the field of sales, the one thing I quickly grew to appreciate was the fact that anything I did to increase my ability in selling also increased .....
Union or MoneyGram, or a third party, or via an overseasI love the art of selling. LOVE IT. When I first entered the field of sales, the one thing I quickly grew to appreciate was the fact that anything I did to increase my ability in selling also increased .....
address. You should ask yourselfand the sellerwhy he or she
wont accept payment options that are traceable and convenient
for you.
posts an image on his auction or classified ad thats obviously
from an outside source. Sometimes these images may not even
match the type of item, let alone the brand, that the ad
features.
sells a typically expensive item at cut-rate prices, which is a
good indicator that it could be counterfeit.
refuses to provide tracking numbers when you purchase an item.
Tracking numbers are another way to trace a valid transaction.
offers only excuses, instead of help, when your purchased item
doesnt arrive at your doorstep.
If youre a seller, you ought to be wary of signs of a
suspicious buyer, such as when a buyer:
asks to pay only some of the fee, offering to the pay the rest
sometime in the future. This is the old excuse from Popeyes
friend Wimpy, who always could be heard saying, I'll gladly pay
you Tuesday for a hamburger today. Wimpy never paid Tuesday.
sends you a cashiers check for more money than the agreed
price by mistake. In this scam, the buyer then asks you to
repay him the difference by personal check, wire transfer, or
Ten Things To Do When You Really, Really Hate Your Job
1. Begin focusing on what you want instead of how much you want to escape. When you find yourself sharing the latest horror story, stop in mid-sentence and say, "What I want to have is.. .....
money orderbefore you find out that the cashiers check didnt1. Begin focusing on what you want instead of how much you want to escape. When you find yourself sharing the latest horror story, stop in mid-sentence and say, "What I want to have is.. .....
clear. Believe it or not, this scheme works because cashiers
checks can be cashed before they bounce.
sends you a cashiers check for the correct amount of money but
then demands a refund, requesting that you repay with your own
money. See the scheme above for how this trick works.
These warning signs, of course, are only for a handful of the
frauds and scams out there. Conmen are good at what they do,
trying to separate you from your money. Thats why its best to
always follow these golden rules of online commerce whenever
buying or selling on an Internet auction or classified site.
Keep your common sense. No matter how good a deal seems, or how
much clients say they want to pay, always remember the old
adage: If it sounds too good to be true.
Do your business locally. Try to buy and sell from your
neighbors as much as possible. Its safer, more convenient, and
better for your local economy. Whats more, it saves you the
trouble of dealing with foreign vendors and buyers. Though they
may be legit, dealing with them can be complicated because of
different legal systems and customs, which can make any conflict
difficult.
Seal the deal with plastic. Paying for items with credit cards,
and allowing your customers to charge for purchases, is a great
all-around business decision. Under U.S. law, all plastic
purchases are protected from fraud and allowed to be disputed in
case of problems.
Meet at the middle man. Intermediary services are virtual middle
men that protect both buyers and sellers from cyber shysters.
Services like Escrow act as a holding pen for both payment and
sale items until both the buyer and seller are content. Only
then will Escrow finish a transaction.
Purchase with PayPal. As Escrow and credit cards do, PayPal
guards against fraud for both buyers and sellers. Its a secure
and reliable way to transfer money over the Internet. No wonder
PayPal is the most popular online money transfer service.
As you can see, the odds are actually in your favor when it
comes to doing business on online classified or auction sites.
The resource of the internet is far too valuable than to be
taken away by a few crooks and conmen. It simply comes down to
being smart, sensible, and observant whenever buying or selling
on the Web. Then again, thats what all good business is about,
whether youre doing it in a mall or on the information
superhighway.
About the author:
Donald Lee is the public relations manager for
Buysellcommunity.com. Buysellcommunity provides free classified
listing services for individuals and businesses to market their
products and services online. For global and localized
classifieds, please visit
http://www.buysellcommunity.com - Free Buy & Sell Classifieds