10. Use common sense.
This seems obvious, but people don’t always do it. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. And if you have a gut feeling that something isn’t legitimate, you’re probably right.
9. Always pay by credit card rather than by check or money order.
This is perhaps the most counter-intuitive advice on the list. Here’s why: If you use your credit card to make a purchase and you encounter a problem — and the company won’t fix it — you can notify (in writing) the bank that issues your credit card that you are disputing the charge, and you don’t have to pay the charge while your dispute is being investigated.
8. Take safety precautions.Be especially careful with passwords. For example, select passwords that are not words contained in any dictionary. Instead, use a combination of letters and numbers. Don’t give yourpasswords to anyone. Also, don’t write all your passwords down where a snoop,
invited or not, can easily find them. Be careful about private information you give out on the Net (don’t publicly state when you’ll be on vacation so burglars know the ideal time to rob your
home).
7. Be skeptical.For example, many companies that promote bulk email will tell you that sending out bulk email is the road to riches. It isn’t. And, if that stock really was such a good deal, why is this person sending you — and millions of other people — this “secret” tip? When you’re shopping online, always check out the company.
6. Never send an email to anyonethat says: “Send this to all your friends.” It is almost certainly a hoax. We’ve never seen a
legitimate email that includes this language. (There must be, but we’ve never seen one.)
5. Be very careful at online auction sites.If you want to buy something at an online auction, always check the references of the seller, and only buy from sellers who have good references. Almost all good auction sites have buyer and seller rating systems. If the item is more expensive than an amount you could comfortably lose, consider using an online escrow service.
4. Protect your personal information and your privacy.Identity theft is extremely serious, and it’s affecting more and more people.
3. Subscribe to FREE electronic newsletter, Internet ScamBusters!
Although many scams can be avoided simply by using your common sense, there are other scams that you simply won’t know about unless someone clues you in first
2. Be careful, but don’t be paranoid.
After all, most businesses on the Web are legitimate. Shopping online can provide tremendous advantages — including the safety of not venturing out to shop! — so don’t throw the baby out with the bath water. Use good judgment, be careful, follow the advice in this ebook, and you probably won’t have any problems.
1. NEVER purchase from a bulk unsolicited
email (called “spam”) you receive. At least 95% of these emails are scams. So, if you
avoid ever responding to spam, you’ve done the single most important thing you can do to avoid getting taken.
As we always say: “If it’s spam, it’s a scam.”
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