Your supplier/manufacturer.
In doing business on the Internet, we must be aware of its abuse. Irrational business approach is a certain way to lose money when dealing with a potential supplier (or buyer) over the internet. The internet is plagued with resourceful criminals who spend months building a relationship under the cover of professional-looking websites; they even send high-quality samples and do not actually sell and some steal the passwords of genuine supplier’s website. So, at times, you do not know who you are really talking with on the other end. These criminals have also been known to set up temporary “real” offices to give you the confidence of a real street address and phone number when you crosscheck; or, they copy the name and address of a real registered company onto a fake website. The list goes on and on because sophisticated schemes to steal your money are endless in the criminal mind. Business-to-Business (B2B) Portals cannot promise you that all of their supplier members are genuine. On these websites, you have thousands of very genuine and reliable suppliers, but they are mixed with both criminals and shoddy manufacturers. So, you have to very carefully investigate a supplier once you enter into serious negotiations; otherwise you will be the looser indeed.

Website & Domain Verification
Do a Yahoo or Google search. Look for any information that looks out of place. First, try the company name and the word “scam” or “fraud” in quotations. For example “shanghai shoes scam.” Then search the name alone but always in quotes like “shanghai shoes”. Websites in China are not unlike the ones in the Western part of the world. Do not be distracted by grammar or non-English. Carefully check the website “about us” section and then cross match that information with all other. Their domain information may be verified by using the following links:-

http://www.whois.org
http://www.dnsstuff.com

Pay close attention to the registration date, registrar name, phone number, and contact info including email.

Verify the phone listing
Remember, a free member profile stating the supplier is in China is meaningless until you verify it. The person behind it might reside in any country merely using China as a shield. Check country and geographic codes. A fraudulent western person could even raise a Chinese supplier profile (and use a chinese based party to collect T/T’s). Some western scammers use a forwarding number or a VOIP number to disguise their location. Numbers beginning with the prefix +4470 or +4487 are forwarding numbers that are rarely used by legitimate companies and not used by Chinese either. Some numbers can be checked here:
http://www.numberingplans.com//?page=analysis&sub=phonenr . Once again the goal should be to find a “geographic number” which means they have a physical landline. Eventually you want to call the number and speak with your contact and at least one other employee of the company.

Product list & price quotes
After you post your buying lead, you will undoubtedly receive lots of information from many companies. Look at the detail for the products and again ask yourself some questions:-

1. Are the prices overly high or low?
2. Do they only accept western Union or 100% T/T ?
3. Is there an appropriate amount of contact information?
4. Are they overly pushy for payment?
5. Is there a sensation of being “rushed”?
6. Are the stated lead times reasonable?
7. Is the MOQ too high or too low for the particular circumstance?

Phone call to your supplier
Finally, pick up your phone and make call china. Dial the supplier’s number/s. Someone speaking Chinese will answer, but just keep repeating the word “English”. They will find somebody who can speak English. These days it costs next to nothing to call China from most Western Countries. Dial their fax number too… Did it give a fax ring tone? Remember you are doing Due Diligence to avoid the loss of precious money.

Don't believe Web sites that tell you that your financial or other personally sensitive information doesn't have to be encrypted. -It's important for a Web site to tell you not only how your information is protected during transmission but also what safety precautions it takes to prevent outsiders from "hacking" into its customer databases and to prevent employees from abusing the information.

Companies you know and trust.
Be sure you know who the company is and where it is physically located. Businesses operating in cyberspace may be in another part of the country or in another part of the world. Resolving problems with companies that are unfamiliar can be more complicated in long-distance or cross-border transactions.

Watch the address bar at the top of the computer screen.
At the point that you are asked to provide your financial account information, Social Security number, or other sensitive personal information, the letters at the beginning of the address will change to either "https" or "shttp," depending on the security system the Web site uses. To make sure you can see the first letters, highlight the address, click either the right or left arrow key (it doesn't matter which) and then click the home key.

• If you're not sure whether it's safe to give your payment or other sensitive information online, you may be able to provide it by telephone or some other offline method.
• If you have any questions about a Web site's security practices, contact the site directly to ask.

Browser show about Web site’s secure.
Look for a symbol at the bottom of your computer screen such as a broken key that becomes whole or a lock that closes. The "Help" section on your browser software or in your manual should describe any feature that confirms that proper security is being used. Don't send your credit card number or other sensitive information by email, since it is not usually secure.

• Contact your software manufacturer if you can't find information on security in the "Help" section of your browser or in your manual.

• If your browser doesn't include a security detection feature, consider updating it to one that does.

Avoid catching a "virus" on your computer.
Don't open attachments to emails from strangers. There may be a virus planted in the attachment that could damage your computer programs or your files. It also could expose sensitive information you may have stored in your computer. If the message looks like it's from someone you know but the heading seems strange, check with that person before opening the attachment. Delete suspicious messages. Viruses also may be hidden in programs you download from the Internet. Consider using and regularly updating anti-virus software on your computer that can alert you to possible infection.

• Don't forward email attachments or programs you've downloaded to others unless you're sure they're virus-free.

• If your computer has caught a virus, you may be able to use anti-virus software to clear it. Some viruses can't be easily removed. Depending on the problem that a virus has caused, you may need to delete all the programs from your hard drive and reinstall them or replace some hardware. 

Your rights if your payment information is stolen.
Federal law limits your responsibility for unauthorized credit card charges to $50, and most credit card companies don't require any payment if you report the problem as soon as you discover it. You also can challenge unauthorized use of your debit card or withdrawals from your bank account. Your legal rights in those cases aren't the same as with credit card charges, but your bank or debit Card Company may voluntarily offer greater protection.

• Check your credit card and bank account statements promptly to spot mistakes or unauthorized charges. If you keep your account records online, look at them regularly.

• In addition to mathematical errors and purchases you didn't make, you can dispute credit card charges if you never received the goods or services or they were misrepresented.

• Notify your credit card issuer or bank immediately if you find any problems.

• Some online services are charged to consumers' telephone bills. If anyone else uses your computer and agrees to such charges, you may be held responsible. Tell every person who has access to your computer not to download programs, even if they are advertised as free, without checking with you first. Contact the telephone company and your state public utility commission to find out about your rights regarding disputed telephone charges.

Take extra security precautions when you have broadband Internet access.
Broadband services, which provide consumers faster access to the Internet, are increasingly available through telephone companies, cable companies, and by satellite. If you have broadband service, you're always connected to the Internet when your computer is turned on.

• When you're connected to the Internet through broadband service you're more helpless to "hackers" who may try to get financial and other personal information that is stored in your computer.

• You can protect yourself by using a "firewall," special software that creates a barrier so unauthorized people can't get into your computer system.

• If you are not using your computer for extended periods of time, make sure you turn it off. A hacker cannot access a computer that is not on.

Western Union Scam
This scam is becoming one of the most common scams used by scammers. Essentially, a Western Union scam is any scam that takes place using the Western Union method of payment. Most commonly, there is a situation where a buyer pays for something via Western Union, and then never receives what was paid for; or the buyer pays for an item via Western Union, and then receives an item of a value far lower than what was actually paid for. Please note this scam takes a various number of forms for a wide variety of items. Just because it does not match exactly your transaction or potential transaction, does not mean it is not the same scam. In other words, avoid any scams the resembling the following situation.

• Buyer finds an item at a price far lower that what would actually be paid for that item.

• Buyer shows interest in the item, thinks the deal is too good to pass up, and asks for more information on how to complete the transaction. The scammer knows the victim is already interested.

• The seller tells the buyer to send the money via Western Union, the seller then asks for the Western Union MTCN # or the money transfer number (this is basically a number that gives the thief access the money).

• Once the thief has the MTCN or money transfer number, he/she can pick up the money at any Western Union worldwide and disappear. The buyer has paid, but the item that was paid for will never be sent.

Tips for avoiding Western Union Scam: 

          Be cautious if:
1.       You receive an offer that sounds too good to be true, like a rock-bottom price on expensive or hard-to-find merchandise.
2.       You are the winning bid in an online auction and are dealing with a seller who will only accept a money transfer as           payment.
3.       You're told you've won a lottery or prize, but have to pay taxes or fees before you can collect.
4.       You're selling merchandise and receive a check for much more than your asking price, but are asked to send the extra           amount back through money transfer.
5.       You're offered a low-cost lon but must pre-pay fees or the first few loan payments using money transfer services.

          Always:
1.       Know the person you're sending money to.
2.       Buy goods and services from known and trusted sources.
3.       Avoid paying for online auction purchases through money transfer.
4.       Use extra caution if buying or selling items to someone outside of your country, especially when buying popular,
          high- dollar,items.
5.       Discontinue any transaction if someone coaches you on how to respond to questions asked by Western Union. This is a           sure sign of fraud.
6.       Check with the Better Business Bureau if you are suspicious of a business.
7.       Contact your State Attorney General Office of Consumer Affairs if you think someone is trying to defraud you.
8.       Know the person you're sending money to.

Remember:
The Western Union Money Transfer service is a great way to send money to people you know and trust.

1.       It isn't intended to send money to someone you don't know.
2.       Western Union doesn't provide an escrow service and isn't responsible for the quality or non-receipt of any goods or           services.
3.       Sending money using a fictitious receiver name won't protect you when doing business with a stranger. Don't do it.
4.       Where available, the "Test Question" feature is designed for emergency situations where the receiver will not have proper           identification. It should never be used as additional security to time or delay payment of a transaction.
5.       With few exceptions, Money Transfer Control Numbers (MTCNs) are not required to pick up money. If someone tells you           differently, check with Western Union directly.
6.       If an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Credit Fraud Detection.
Reducing credit card fraud with neural networks.
www.nd.com

Bizpakistan.com
         By Masood Ahmad
         Islamabad, Pakistan.