Online Fraud

The internet is a miracle, both for the masses and for that small, dedicated group of thieves who are always looking for a way to perpetrate credit card fraud or email fraud.

Email fraud attempts to get you to click on a link or respond to an email inquiry in hopes of gaining access to your computer and to your personal information. If a thief can get you to enter credit card information into a form, by fooling you into thinking you are buying information or products, they can use that information to illegally charge products to your credit card.  

These purchases can include items the thief intends to sell to others or just items the thief wants to buy and use. Beyond these purchases, enthusiastic thieves can also perpetrate identity theft, using your credit card information to get more credit cards, apply for loans and otherwise do damage to your reputation and assume your identity.

Other forms of online fraud include fraud that entails getting you to purchase an item in an online auction. When you provide your credit card information, you give the thieves a chance to use your credit card numbers and information and to make matters worse; you probably won’t get the item you bought.  

If you sell items online you are not exempt from internet fraud. A buyer may offer to pay you for an item by making a deposit directly into your bank account. To do this, the buyer will have to get all your routing information. Business to business wire transfers are perfectly legitimate and happen all the time. But when you don’t know the business is reputable and you don’t know the person with whom you are doing business, you are well advised to wait for your payment and have to buyer send a money order or business or certified check. Otherwise you might find yourself the victim of check fraud and your bank account may be cleaned out.  

Remember, all you need is forethought. Before you respond to a request for personal information, use some common sense.  Practice credit fraud protection every day in your online interaction, and ensure your financial security.