Consumer Protection - ESCROW FRAUD III

 

Important Fraud Prevention Tips

 

• Please note, TraderOnline.com and Trader Publishing Company do not offer "Payment Protection" services or "Verified Seller" services of any type.
• Never accept a cashier’s check that is over the price of the item on sale.
• Do not assume that because the bank has cashed the check for you, it is a legitimate check. Cashier checks take 30 days to determine if they are legitimate.
• Be more suspicious if you are requested to handle a transaction through a wire transfer.
• Be aware of individuals posing as a representative of a client.
• Call the seller to see if the number is correct and working.
• Reconsider doing business with individuals who are reluctant to answer your questions.
• Take precautions when dealing with individuals/companies from outside your own country.
• Watch out for individuals who only want to communicate via e-mail.
• Try to obtain a physical address rather than merely a post office box and a phone number.
• Make sure you are purchasing merchandise from a reputable source.
• Inquire about returns and warranties.
• When purchasing a vehicle outside of your local area, consider utilizing an escrow or alternate payment service.
• Don't give out your credit card number(s) online unless the site is a secure and trusted site. Sometimes a tiny icon of a padlock appears to symbolize a higher level of security to transmit data.
• Before using the site, check out the security/encryption software it uses.
• Make sure the transaction is secure when you electronically send your credit card numbers.
• Email the seller to see if they have an active email address and be wary of sellers who use free email services, such as yahoo.com.
• Check with the Better Business Bureau from the seller's area.
• Check out other web sites regarding this person/company.
• Be guarded when responding to special offers (especially through unsolicited email)
• The safest way to purchase items via the Internet is by credit card because you can often dispute the charges if something is wrong.
• You should also keep a list of all your credit cards and account information along with the card issuer's contact information. If anything looks suspicious or you lose your credit card(s) you should contact the card issuer immediately.

How to Report Fraud?

Help us stop fraud. If you receive a suspicious email, report it right away.


Step 1: Forward any suspicious emails to us immediately at fraud@traderonline.com. Don’t change the subject line or send it as an attachment—doing so could prevent us from identifying trends and preventing similar scams.

Step 2: File a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center to inform federal and state law enforcement agencies.

Report the fraud to local law enforcement as well.


We strongly recommend that you report fraud to law enforcement (Step 2). TraderOnline.com investigates all reports in an effort to protect our customers against future fraud.

Visit the sites below to learn more about Internet fraud.

Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
File a complaint
www.ic3.gov


Better Business Bureau (BBB)
Be a Smarter Consumer
www.bbb.org


Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
Practical Tips to Help You Be on Guard Against Internet Fraud
rn.ftc.gov


Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC)
Fake Seals and Phony Numbers: How Fraudsters Try to Look Legit
www.sec.gov


Better Business Bureau (BBB)
Tips to Avoid Online Escrow Fraud
www.bbb.org


California Department of Corporations Top 10 Tips to Avoid Online Escrow Fraud www.corp.ca.gov

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