As your Internet Service Provider, we want to help protect you from fraud as you use the infinite resources on the Internet. The Internet is a valuable source of information. Unfortunately, the popularity of the Internet is also attracting a new type of cyber “fraud spammer” who attempts to fraud unsuspecting Internet users.
Recently, several well known organizations (Best Buy, PayPal, AOL, and EBay) have had fraudulent email sent to their customers requesting sensitive information. These emails had the appearance of being legitimate email addresses from these companies. In reality, they were hoaxes attempting to secure sensitive information (i.e. credit card information, logins, Personal Identification Numbers, passwords, etc.) from these companies’ customers.
According to the 2002 Internet Fraud Report, issued by the FBI Internet Fraud Complaint Center, victims of Internet fraud lost $54 million in 2002, up from $17 million in 2001. If you suspect you have been conned over the Internet, we urge you to visit the Internet Fraud Complaint Center at www.ifccfbi.gov.
The best defense against fraud is education. By using caution and understanding the most common scams, you can enjoy the Internet while staying safe. Following are some tips to protect yourself against Internet Fraud:
* Be extremely cautious of any email that asks for any sensitive information, such as: credit card numbers, social security numbers, checking account or bank routing numbers, personal home phone numbers, and any user IDs and associated passwords. NEVER reply to any email that asks you to send this type of information via email.
* If you think you have received legitimate email requesting sensitive information, call the company who you think sent the message. DO NOT call any numbers, or click on any links, listed in the email because these could be part of a hoax also. Go to the company’s website and look up a general number you can contact to verify the email came from the company.
* Set aside one credit card for Internet purchases. Make sure it has a relatively low credit limit ($1,000 or less), and make sure the credit card company will reimburse you in the event of theft. Read your statement carefully each month. The safest way to buy items over the Internet is by credit card because you can usually dispute the charges if something goes wrong.
* Don't give out your credit card number online unless the site is reputable and secure.
* If you buy something on an auction site such as eBay, carefully check the seller's feedback. Does the seller have a long history of good feedback, or is their account only a few weeks or months old? Some scammers will quickly sell a few cheap items to establish good feedback, then rip off buyers with big-ticket items they don't deliver.
* All eBay sellers should tell you up front the forms of payment they will accept. Don't bid on an item unless you are comfortable using that form of payment.
* Obtain the seller's physical address and phone number before sending payment. If possible, verify the address with the phone company.
* Be wary of unfamiliar retail Web sites. Don't hesitate to call the site's toll-free number and ask questions. Ask around to find other customers who have used the site. Some crooks have created Web sites to hawk products or airplane tickets or hotel rooms that don't exist. Call the hotel directly to confirm your reservation.
* If a buyer sends you a cashier's check for more than the price of an item and asks you to mail him the difference, don't do it. Be suspicious of anyone who wants you to wire money to an overseas bank account.
As your Internet Service Provider, we will never send email messages out that will ask you to respond via email with any sensitive information.
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