PDA

View Full Version : Some tips to protect you when buying on the Internet.



ts1spoc
05-15-2002, 05:37 PM
Some tips to protect you when buying on the Internet.
When sending funds in the mail you need to be able to determine when the item was received and who received it. Sending your money or your Automag by certified mail requires a signature be obtained for receipt of the package. This only adds a couple of dollars to your total cost and will be worth it. After you mail it, the person receiving the package or money signs for it. The attached card is then sent back and you have proof that someone received it and the day it was received. KEEP THE UGLY GREEN CARD. I will explain more later.
Never, ever, ever, never send cash in the mail. Even though you have the recipient’s signature you have no proof of how much money you sent them. Here are some of the options you have of sending funds through the mail and some of their pros and cons,
Money orders- Will cost about $ .50 to $3.00. You get a receipt stub with a number that matches the money order number and the amount of the money order. Always save the receipt and make a copy of the money order after you fill it out. A money order is a guarantee that the funds are available and ready when you cash it. Most money order companies have an automated 1-800 number you can call and find out if the money order has been cashed and the date it was cashed. The problem is that even after it is cashed and the service provider reneges on the deal you have to request a copy of the money order from the company to prove who cashed it. The same goes if it is lost in the mail. Requesting a reimbursement, stop payment or copy of a money order will cost you around $10.00.
Cashier Check- One of the better options. Cost is around $5.00. Works like a guaranteed check that the funds are available. If it’s lost you have to fill out an indemnity form that states you are not trying to cheat them and they will refund your money. When the check is cashed it goes to the bank where you bought it and a copy is available if you need it.
Personal Check- Costs you nothing but the person you sent it to will hang on to it until it clears the bank before they send you the goods. In most cases you receive a copy of the check and you have the ability to see if it has cleared your account. Stopping payment is around $10.00 for most banks if you lose one.

Before you send your money you need to know who you are sending it to. A real name is necessary. This helps ensure that the person you made it out to was the one to cash it. Do not send a check made out to someone’s screen name or leave the Pay To The Order Of line blank. This is an open invitation to be victimized. When conversing, request the seller give his/her real name, address (Not a post office box) and phone number. Enter this information on the proper line and do it in ink. Also ask about the time to ship and the method. Make a copy of what you sent them, check, cashier check or money order. If someone uses UPS get the tracking number.
Now that you have sent your money but have not received your parts, what do you do? Communication is the main thing. If you have a problem send an e-mail. If you don’t get a response within a few days call them Politely. Remember you catch more flies with honey than vinegar. Always be courteous but insistent. Find out what the problem is and how to correct it. Sometimes it’s nothing more than an oversight or miscommunication.
If all else fails and you still have problems what recourse do you have? Depends on the circumstances. Some of you may think because you sent a person money and have not received something for it that they have committed mail fraud. The US government says,
MAIL FRAUD - 18 U.S.C. 1341, makes it a Federal crime or offense for anyone to use the United States mails in carrying out a scheme to defraud. A person can be found guilty of that offense only if all of the following facts are proved: First: That the person knowingly and willfully devised a scheme to defraud, or for obtaining money or property by means of false pretenses, representations or promises; and Second: That the person used the United States Postal Service by mailing, or by causing to be mailed, some matter or thing for the purpose of executing the scheme to defraud.
In many jurisdictions to be convicted of mail fraud the Assistant U.S. Attorney has to prove beyond a reasonable doubt the following items:

1. The person, conducted or attempted to conduct, a scheme or plan to defraud;
2. with the intent to commit fraud;
3. the person, directly or through another, used the U. S. Mail or private/commercial interstate carrier to carry out the fraud; and
4. the scheme involved false material representations.
But in case you decide you want to try your hand at mail fraud here’s what could happen to you,
PUNISHMENT:
One may be found guilty of a felony, imprisoned up to 5 years, and fined up to $250,000. If a financial institution is involved, one may be imprisoned up to 30 years and fined up to $1,000,000. The punishment is per transaction. For example, if 8 letters are sent through the U.S. Mail and 10 packages are sent through FedEx, the potential punishment above is multiplied by 18. One should also be aware that since 1987 parole has been abolished in the Federal System. Expungement (removal of conviction from public records) is also not available.
www.ftc.gov/opa/2000/05/alliance.htm
If you think you might be a victim of mail fraud here is a web site that has the necessary forms to file a claim.
www.usps.com/postalinspectors/fraud/MailFraudComplaint
The term "Internet fraud" refers generally to any type of fraud scheme that uses one or more components of the Internet - such as chat rooms, e-mail, message boards, or Web sites - to present fraudulent solicitations to prospective victims, to conduct fraudulent transactions, or to transmit the proceeds of fraud to financial institutions or to others connected with the scheme
And with regard to someone’s post about the Better Business Bureau. They are involved in companies on the Internet that fail to meet their obligations but can’t help with individuals.
In order to convict a person of Internet fraud he must have intentions of doing so. In those cases there are several web sites, which can help.
www.fraud.org
http://www1.ifccfbi.gov
If you do enough business anywhere chances are your going to get burned. Its not intentional but it happens. If you have not received your $20.00 grip panels from John Smith yet he has done numerous other transactions with other members and had no problems maybe he is trying to cheat you. In some states this may be viewed as a civil problem. In others it may be criminal. If e-mails and phone calls don’t produce the desired effect, what you need now is information.
You now have to weigh the cost of gathering the necessary documents and the time involved against what you lost. If it’s worth it continue.
Remember the little green card you got back in the mail when you sent your money. That has John Smith’s signature on it. This ties John Smith to the letter and money you sent. It shows that it was in John Smith’s possession. A copy of your method of payment is next. It will have the endorsement of John Smith on the back and ties him to the fact he did receive the money. In the case of no signature but it was deposited you now have John Smith’s account number and bank where it went stamped across the back. You also have John Smith’s address where he lives and his phone number to contact him.
Contact your local law enforcement agency and ask for advice. Sometimes they may tell you it’s a civil problem. This means that you and John Smith entered into a contract to provide something for money and he failed to uphold his end of the contract. Some police agencies will tell you that the crime happened where you sent your money others will tell you it happened from where it was sent. If your local police can help, you have enough information to know where John Smith is and how to contact him for questioning. It may be you have to call the police department where John Smith lives and provide them with the same information. Normally one visit to John’s house by the local constable and he may gladly send you the money or the part to make the visits stop.
In the case where it is a civil matter your loss needs to be enough you are willing to spend some more money to recover your damages. In some instances you can recover the amount of your loss plus any money spent trying to recover your money or property. In most states this can be done through small claims court. Normally there is a cap on the amount you can collect (around $1,500.00.) Anything larger needs an attorney and a civil lawsuit.

Cristobal
05-17-2002, 01:01 AM
Great info! I would also think that if the other party is aware that you have taken certain percautions, it would decrease their interest in defrauding you.

(Also, you can put an img line in your sig, so you don't have to keep attatching that pic -- just make the reference point to address where you've already attatched it. You might also think about decreasing its size; its kinda big for a sig pic.)

than205
05-24-2002, 07:37 AM
Moderators,
Can we put a sticky on this?
This is good info.
Thanks,

the JoKeR
05-24-2002, 08:30 AM
You can also avoid the whole mess and use a 3rd party! Sorry, but I don't trust 95% of the people out there!

paintbattler
05-26-2002, 01:14 PM
i prob only trust myself and my family..no one else

pumpamatic
05-29-2002, 09:52 PM
Yeah, I normally don't send any money to anybody on this forum with under 400 posts or who has been registered for less than 3 months. I have no trouble sending to someone who has over 500 posts and is pretty well known around here or who I have seen doing a lot of business on the boards.