Fraud

It is easy to get tricked on the Internet because you cannot easily check who you are dealing with. And government rules do not apply to people outside the UK or the EU.

Some tips for avoiding fraud:

1. Do not believe any get rich quick scheme.
2. Think of any recommendations you see for any product or stock on the Internet as just advertising.
3. Do not take advice from someone when you cannot tell who they are.
4. Do not believe 'insider information'.
5. Beware of any email offers you did not ask for, especially if they ask you to reply really quickly.
6. Beware of all post-auction offers of similar goods that you did not ask for and that don't involve the same auction company.
7. Do not give your credit card number to someone you did not contact yourself.
8. Do not send your credit card information by regular email, even if the seller asks you to.
9. Buying by credit card can give you extra protection.

LINKS

For further advice on scams and a lot more see the DTI website Consumers Direct.