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Look for information about how complaints are handled It can be difficult to resolve complaints, especially if the seller or charity is located in another country. Search both the website and the Web for information about programmes that the company participates in which require it to meet standards of reliability and probity.
No complaints is no guarantee Fraudulent operators open and close quickly, so the fact that no one has made a complaint yet doesn't meant that the seller or charity is legitimate.
Never believe promises of easy money If someone claims that you can earn money with little or no work, get a loan or credit card even if you have bad credit, or make money on an investment with little or no risk, it's probably a scam.
Understand the offer A legitimate seller will give you all the details about the products or services, the total price, the delivery time, the refund and cancellation policies, and the terms of any warranty. A scam artist won't.
Resist pressure Legitimate companies and charities will be happy to give you time to make a decision. If a seller demands that you act immediately or won't take no for an answer, it's probably a scam.
Think twice before entering competitions operated by unfamiliar companies Fraudulent marketers sometimes use competition entry forms to identify potential victims.
Be cautious about unsolicited emails They are often fraudulent. If you are familiar with the company or charity that sent you the email and you don't want to receive further messages, send a reply asking to be removed from the email list. However, responding to unknown senders may simply verify that yours is a working email address and result in even more unwanted messages from strangers. The best approach is to delete the email.
Beware of imposters Someone might send you an email pretending to be connected with a business or charity, or create a Web site that looks just like that of a well-known company or charitable organisation. If you're not sure that you're dealing with the real thing, find another way to contact the legitimate business or charity and ask. A legitimate organisation will have no problem with this.
Guard your personal information Don't provide your credit card or bank account number unless you are actually paying for something. Be especially suspicious if someone claiming to be from a company with whom you have an account asks for information that the business already has.
Beware of 'dangerous downloads' In downloading programs to see pictures, hear music, play games, etc., you could download a virus that wipes out your computer files or connects your modem to a premium rate telephone number, resulting in expensive phone charges. Only download programs from Web sites you know and trust. Read all user agreements carefully.
Pay the safest way Credit cards are the safest way to pay for online purchases because you can dispute the charges if you never get the goods or services or the offer was misrepresented.
Sanjit Chudha
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