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FBI States Online Auction Fraud Biggest Source of Complaints

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the well-duh dept.

dipfan writes "The FBI says internet auction fraud was the biggest source of complaints last year, according to the annual report by the Internet Fraud Complaint Centre. The Nigerian bank scam still remains popular, even after all these years. Quote: "During 2001, Internet auction fraud was by far the most reported offense, comprising 42.8% of referred complaints .... Non-deliverable merchandise and payment comprise 20.3% of complaints, and credit and debit card fraud make up 9.4% of complaints." The report is a 27 page PDF file while the Washington Post wrote up an article about it." Just ask CowboyNeal about some of his fun with dealing with dealers in Hong Kong.

4 of 158 comments (clear)

  1. doesn't suprise me by dciman · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I have been messing around in the online auction business for several years now. I can say that you seriously have to do your homework on the person you are bying from.... look at their past ratings by other buyers... of course even with that you never know. Unfortunatly, sometimes you just get burned. It's happened to me a couple of times. Luckly with enough harassment and some "legal looking" documents sent to the seller I was able to clear it up. I know of others not as lucky.

  2. How can this be avoided? by Dephex+Twin · · Score: 3, Insightful
    Merchandise that was ordered online but was never paid for or shipped accounted for 20 percent of complaints last year, the IFCC said.

    Isn't there some way to work out a reliable escrow service that can act as a middleman for these types of transactions (if desired)?

    Otherwise, I don't see a way that this could improve. There's scam artists out there. The Internet is the ultimate place for anonymity. Even a smart consumer could get tricked.

    mark
    --

    If you want to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first create the universe. -- Carl Sagan
  3. *Sigh* by TheGreenLantern · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Why is this news? "Oh, gee, you mean this person I'm trying to buy something from, whom I've never met before, have no idea what his real address, phone number, or even his name may be, might be trying to rip me off?" You know, if people were conducting this transaction over the phone, or by snailmail, everyone would say, "Well Duh" and laugh at the person's stupidity. But it's on the Internet, so suddenly it's a major catastrophe and the FBI has to step in and save us.

    It's like all common sense flies out the window whenever any issue deals with the Internet in any way.

    --

    It hurts when I pee.
    1. Re:*Sigh* by dvdeug · · Score: 3, Insightful

      But it's on the Internet, so suddenly it's a major catastrophe and the FBI has to step in and save us.

      It's FBI's job to deal with interstate fraud. Of course they should step in when somebody is being ripped off via the Internet (or the phone or snailmail).