Online auctions can be a great way to scoop holiday gifts at a screaming deal. Unfortunately, online fraud can end up having you screaming at the mirror instead. Here are some of the ways to avoid such pitfalls;
1)Don't open e-mails from senders you don't know.
2) Never access a website from a link in an e-mail, especially an email that asks for personal information.
3) If you have any doubts about the authenticity of an e-mail, do not respond, call the sender or type in the web address in your web browser.
4) Beware of emails sent offering you a prize or a discount and then asking you to choose a user id and password (most people use the same access information for several accounts- easier to remember- thieves will collect your log in information and try them at other sites, like financial institutions or credit card sites).
5) Do monitor your account activity closely and watch for unusual activity.
6) Change your password every 60 days and make sure your online passwords are complicated.
7) Note that fraudulent e-mails often include misspellings and poor grammar.
8) Update your anti-virus software frequently. Common anti-virus software includes McAfee and Norton.
9) Beware of e-mails with a sense of urgency; attempting to rush you into action. Messages like, "Update now or we'll close your account..."
10) Do not include personal or sensitive data in or in response to an e-mail.
11) Google is your friend: To get an idea of a site's reputation, do an online search via Google, Bing or your search engine of choice. You'd be surprised at what you might turn up by simply Googling a company's name with keywords such as "fraud" and "scam."
12) Whip out the plastic: Paying with a credit card gives you an added layer of fraud protection and keeps your bank account info off the hands of potential shysters and scam artists.
13) Making contact: Verify the phone number and other contact information of a seller before you make a purchase. Ideally, you'll want to avoid purchasing from sellers who are out of the country, according to Bellomo. Personally, I've had both good and bad experiences from overseas sellers so just make sure you do the requisite digging around before ordering from someone overseas.
14) Follow common sense: If a deal sounds to good to be true, it probably is. When a seller claims to have brand new 16 GB Sony Memory Sticks (normally about $100) for $9, for example, chances are it's fake. In fact, I've seen this happen.
