Outsmart Scammers: Keep Online Auctions from Being a Scammer’s Paradise

More than a billion people use the Internet, making the web a very enticing place for con artists to strike. The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center lists Internet auction fraud as the most-reported offense, comprising 44.9% of referred complaints in 2007.

In the comfort of your own home, shopping on auction sites offers a convenient way to uncover hard-to-find items, compare prices and score some great deals. But when it comes to using online auction sites, a little bit of research can go a long way to protecting yourself from a scammer. When shopping online, always make sure you are dealing with a secure website by checking that the site’s URL contains either https:// or shttp://. You should also check for the padlock icon at the bottom of your browser window:

Here are some precautions from the FBI that will help keep you safe when shopping at an online auction site:

• Make sure you are purchasing merchandise from a reputable source.
• Inquire about returns and warranties.
• Send them e-mails to see if they have an active e-mail address and be wary of sellers who use free e-mail services.
• Check with the Better Business Bureau from the seller’s area.
• Check out other web sites regarding this person/company.
• Don’t judge a person/company by their web site.
• Be cautious when responding to special offers (especially through unsolicited e-mail).
• Be cautious when dealing with individuals/companies from outside your own country.
• The safest way to purchase items via the Internet is by credit card, because you can often dispute the charges if something goes wrong.

Not only do you want to shop victoriously, but also safely, so download these tips from the National Consumer League’s Internet Fraud Watch. Check out the AMW Safety Center’s guide to keeping your personal information safe when shopping online.