Beware of THE BBB is predicting @ surge in online scams this year. “We are advising con- sumers who are online to be extra careful this year. Scam artists go where the money is, and an estimated 50 million households will make online purchases over the next five years,” said Valerie MacLean, Better Business Bureau (BBB) spokesperson. While online shopping can be just as safe as stores or mail orders, unless consumers learn to identify online fraud indicators, those who fre- quent the Galine marketplace can open themselves up to the same scams that are com- mon with offline shopping, according to the BBB. Internet-based scams the BBB predicts will flourish in the coming year include investment scams, chain letter e-mail. business opportunity pitches, and bogus Web sites. -. : “Why? Because disposable income is up, the stock mar- ket is doing well, and too many “consumers want to believe the enticing sales “pitches. they come across “while surfing the Net. Scam “artists know this, and they know that the Internet pro- vides a medium that permits them: to - perpetrate scams quickly, leave no. paper trail and bypass all geographic boundaries,” said MacLean. . 2 Online . consumers: . can ; protect themselves by learn- -ing. how to identify reputable ".. e-businesses; how to detect _ the ured flags of fraud, and what to do if they fll victim toa scam online. Reputable businesses post their physical address (street address, city, state) and phone number on the Web site. If the online merchant refuses to provide that infor- mation, leave the site — it could be a sign that the busi- ness is located offshore, or wants to prevent your being able to check its reliability with outside organizations. Look for customer. satis- faction information. If there is no refund or return policy posted, and it is not possible to contact an employee to ask how che business will handle potential problems that may arise, the BBB advises you to leave the Web site. Check for reliability. Look on the Web site for a refiabil- ity seal from an online con- sumer protection group, such as BBBOnline, and do some background checking before placing an order. More than 4,500 Web sites have qualified to display the BBBOnline Reliability Seal, demonstrating that they have met strict’ Better Business Bureau standards, in addition to Reliability program dards. Look for a posted privacy seal. Reputable businesses will tell you up-front how they Plan to use any persenal- ly identifiable information you submit or they collect from your visit to their site. Some common red flags that strongly suggest a poten- .” tial online scam include: stan- BBBOnline - HIGH TECH ne contidence tr @ “It’s now or never” first- come, first-served claims. Beware of pressure for an immediate response or frantic claims of limited availability. Legitimate businesses will give you time to make a wise purchasing decision. @ Avoiding the mail. Ifa sell- er requests payment in cash by a private courier or by cheque or money order through an overnight deliv- ery service, be suspicious. He or she could be trying an end run around the postal fraud laws. @ “Free” prize offers that request money. Don’t trust an offer for free products or services that ask you to send inoney or pay an upfront fee. % Dazzling presentation. Scam business advertise- ments, particularly those sent by e-mail, are often brimming with excessive CAPITAL LETTERS, dollar SignS, 'W!exelamation points!!!, mis- spellings or grammatical errors. @ “Get rich quick” appeals. Con artists know exactly how to scam consumers who want to make big money quickly with little work or effort. The explosions of e-commerce and Internet-related busi- nesses has made it easy for cyberspace crooks to con eager buyers into believing that hundreds of dollars invested in an Internet busi- ness will instantly turn into thousands of dollars in profit overnight. As the :wmber of retail Web sites and the volume of business transacted online’ continues to rise, disputes about online marketplace transactions would also be expected to increase. “Overall, customer satis- faction among consumers who shop online is quite good,” — said = MacLean. “For chose who do experi- ence glitches, help is avaiiable from the BBB.” fe oe oe es “First year rate, includes 1% Wednesday, February 23, 2000 —- North Shore News - 17 The BBB at provides consumers with information on how to file =a complaint — with the BBB, and access to an online complaint — form. Each month during 1999 more and more consumers were accessing the BBB's complaint process through the Internet, -.00% Multi-Rater Gic bonus when deposited in your RSP. cad an average of 6.25% over five years. Flexibiity clause: the GIC Multi-Rater is redeemabie alter two years and al each anniversary date Canin conditions apply. interest rate subject to change without notice. Available for a limited time only. Guaranteed returns: 6%6 the first year LAURENTIAN BANK OF CANADA Tour the first Park Royal = Show February 24-27 and you could ce home daily winnings of $1000. Visit the Galf Show in Park Royal North and enter to win the daily draw for a $1000 golting prize pack. February 24-27 Park Royal is filled with golf and 250 stores of whatever you're into. 250 stores. Taylar Way and Marine Drive. West Vancouver 925 9576 www.shopparkrayai.com icksters “While not cvery com- plaine filed online concerns an online merchant, a signifi- cant number do. Some consumers report that they have been scammed . or defrauded online; others ° need assistance resolving disputes with legiti- mate online merchants,” said MacLean.