Don’t be a Victim of Online Auction Fraud

Don’t be a Victim of Online Auction Fraud

by: Stephen Bucaro

The Internet Fraud Complaint Center (IFCC) reported that last year 7.7 million dollars was lost through online auction scams. The actual losses are much greater. Most auction scams are not reported because they involve only small amounts of money.

Most auction Web sites are aggressive at fighting fraud. eBay has a fraud investigation unit that has helped them hold down fraud to only .01% of its transactions. If you paid for an item and never received it, or if you received the item but it was less than what was described, eBayกs Fraud Protection Program will reimburse you up to $200, minus a $25 processing charge. In order to qualify for Fraud Protection coverage, you must submit an Online Fraud Complaint with eBay after 30 days and before 60 days from the time the auction ended.

After making a purchase, buyers can leave feedback about their experience with the seller. Before you bid on an item, check the sellerกs feedback profile by clicking on the number next to the their User ID. There is also a feedback forum and discussion board.

Below are a few actions that you should take to protect yourself from Internet auction fraud.

For a high cost item use an escrow service.

Avoid sellers who request payment by electronic transfer.

Never provide your Social Security Number or Drivers License Number.

Verify the delivery data and the sellers return policy.

Review the online feedback on a seller.

If the seller is a business, check with the Better Business Bureau www.bbb.org.

Prefer sellers who accept credit card payments. When you use a credit card to pay for a purchase, federal law limits your liability for an unauthorized charge to $50. You can also request your credit card issuer to make a chargeback.

Be cautious about buying from a seller in another country. If you buy from a seller in another country, understand the difference in laws governing auctions between that country and the US.

If you become a victim of Internet auction fraud, you can submit a complaint report with an online form at the IFCC Web site www.ifccfbi.gov. The IFCC will review your complaint and refer it to the proper law enforcement agency.

Internet Auction fraud is a large and growing problem. Take the measures outlined above to prevent yourself from becoming a victim.

Copyright(C)2004 Bucaro TecHelp.

Permission is granted for the below article to forward, reprint, distribute, use for ezine, newsletter, website, offer as free bonus or part of a product for sale as long as no changes are made and the byline, copyright, and the resource box below is included.

About The Author

Stephen Bucaro

To learn how to maintain your computer and use it more effectively to design a Web site and make money on the Web visit bucarotechelp.com. To subscribe to Bucaro TecHelp Newsletter visit http://bucarotechelp.com/search/000800.asp

This article was posted on August 27, 2004

by Stephen Bucaro

Turn Worm Poop into Cash

Turn Worm Poop into Cash

by: Stephen Bucaro

Two University students, Tom Szaky and Jon Beyer, entered their กWorm Projectก into a business plan contest at Princeton. The project involved taking organic garbage from the dining halls at Princeton University and feeding it to worms. The worms processed the garbage into organic fertilizer for flowers, house plants, and vegetables.

Most fertilizer products available today use synthetic chemicals which destroy the microbes that improve the soil and promote plant growth. In addition, runoff from fields into water supplies causes harm to the environment.

The popularity of organically grown foods is growing. As a result, more farms are using organic fertilizers. The USDA projects that sales of organically grown food will be $20 billion this year and are expected to grow at an annual rate of 20 percent.

Szaky decided to drop out of school and dedicate his time to turning the Worm Project into reality. His company TerraCycle International Inc. www.terracycle.net signed contracts through which it will receive 130 tons of organic garbage daily from clients throughout northern New Jersey.

In his manufacturing process, the garbage is fed to millions of red worms. The worms take about three weeks to turn the garbage into solid worm poop. The worm poop is separated out, liquefied, and put in bottles.

The resulting product is superior to other brands on the market because most fertilizer has had chemicals added. TerraCycleกs process is entirely organic, creating soil the same way itกs created in the forest.

Since the product became available in stores, about 15,000 units have been sold. A 20ounce bottle sells for $6.95. TerraCycle now has 11 employees and expects revenues to reach $1 million in its 200405 fiscal year.

Tom Szaky and Jon Beyer have created a brilliant กgarage operationก farming business using worms as their กlive stockก. All you need is a source of organic garbage and you too can turn worm poop into cash.

Copyright(C) Bucaro TecHelp.

Permission is granted for the below article to forward, reprint, distribute, use for ezine, newsletter, website, offer as free bonus or part of a product for sale as long as no changes are made and the byline, copyright, and the resource box below is included.

About The Author

Stephen Bucaro

Copyright(C) Bucaro TecHelp.

To learn how to maintain your computer and use it more effectively to design a Web site and make money on the Web visit bucarotechelp.com To subscribe to Bucaro TecHelp Newsletter visit http://bucarotechelp.com/search/000800.asp

This article was posted on April 01

by Stephen Bucaro

Font Basics

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by: Stephen Bucaro

Stephen Bucaro

About The Author

Stephen Bucaro

To learn how to maintain your computer and use it more effectively to design a Web site and make money on the Web visit bucarotechelp.com. To subscribe to Bucaro TecHelp Newsletter visit http://bucarotechelp.com/search/000800.asp.

This article was posted on November 26, 2004

by Stephen Bucaro