• when transferring money use reliable firms (avoid the following methods of payment Money Order, Cashier Cheque, Cheque, Money Wire.  Do not use the following companies to buy and/or sell online: Western Union, Moneygram).
• never transfer or receive money for someone else
• check the site or seller privacy and returns policy
• print out a copy of your order and any acknowledgement you receive
• check your bank statement carefully against anything you buy online
• keep your passwords secure (never give out your password for this site or for your banking services).

Recognizing and dealing with internet fraud

You may be the victim of internet fraud if:

• you have paid for an item online and it does not arrive
• you sell something online and you don't receive payment
• the item you receive doesn't match the original description you were given

If you think you have been conned:

• check with the company or seller you dealt with to see if you can resolve the problem (contact us at admin@ourconnection.ca with details of any scam along with the URL of the auction you think is a scam and we will investigate and/or try to assist).
• if you have a problem with an item bought or sold using on an auction site,  check with them to see if they can do anything about it.  Contact admin@ourconnection.ca if you feel you've been scammed on this site. 
• if you paid for goods using a credit card and the goods did not arrive you can ask the credit card company to investigate
• if you used an online payment service, check if you are covered by a fraud protection scheme on the service website

Schemes to watch out for

The internet provides criminals with an easy way to contact thousands of people at a time. Examples include, emails offering the chance to take part in money making schemes, or claiming you are the winner of a prize draw.

You can avoid being a victim of internet fraud by:

• remembering - if something sounds too good to be true, it usually is
• taking your time making decisions that involve parting with money
• getting independent financial advice before making investments
• only doing business with companies or sellers that you recognize or know of by recommendation by someone you trust - don't judge a company or seller on how 'professional' their website looks
• if in any doubt, you can check a company is genuine by looking them up on Companies House or the Financial Services Authority websites - if they are they will be registered

Identity theft

If personal details like your address, passport number and National Insurance number are stolen they can be used to set up online accounts, apply for credit cards and even apply for benefits in your name without you knowing.

Criminals may try to get your credit card details by sending emails that appear to be from a reputable online organization like a bank or credit card company. They encourage you to enter your credit card details or password on a fake website.