Attention Online Consumers!

Updated: December 20th, 2007

Guardian eCommerce Security continues to receive the similar complaints from online consumers. Please protect yourself when transacting on the Web!  In addition to this online consumer alerts page, please also visit these Guardian eCommerce online consumer protection links: Online Safety Tips, Internet Fraud Protection Tips, Online Credit Card Fraud Protection Tips, and important Online Consumer Warnings.

Based on the flood of recent online consumer complaints received: please consider the following recommendations to ensure your protection:

  • Do NOT double-click 'submit' buttons. Unfortunately, some Web sites are double-billing clients.
  • Review your order BEFORE YOU SUBMIT! With most mouses having built-in scrollers, it's so easy for information to get mistakenly changed with one accidental touch of the scroller.
  • If it's too good to be true, it usually is!! Nothing is free, almost everything has a cost.
  • Do not set your email program to 'auto-run' attachments.
  • Always ensure that emails you receive are being auto-scanned by your anti-virus software.
  • Delete ALL EMAILS pertaining to lottery wins, inheritances gained, required bank information, and etc., (all have been proven to be costly scams).
  • WHEN IN DOUBT, (with Email or Web browsing)... DO NOT TRANSACT WITH THE WEB SITE OR DO NOT OPEN THE EMAIL.

FOR BEST ONLINE CONSUMER PROTECTION: Please make sure that the Web Site you transact with has been APPROVED AND CERTIFIED by a trusted third party site verification authority like Guardian eCommerce or even BBB.

Important Consumer Alert!

Email Fraud And Phishing Scams

In the past year, Guardian eCommerce Security has received thousands of complaints pertaining to email fraud and/or phishing scams. If you are connected to the Internet, be on the alert for email fraud and phishing scams, in all their deceptive forms! More specifically, watch out for email fraud or 'phishing scams': where the perpetrator(s) send out legitimate-looking, but phony e-mails (the act of phishing) or Web sites appearing to come from a legitimate company in an effort to phish (pronounced 'fish') for personal and financial information from the email recipient. Be aware of phishing scams or email fraud in legitimate looking emails with links to Web sites coming from parties pretending to be legitimate companies requesting personal or financial information. Be also on the look out for phishing scams or email fraud in legitimate looking emails that threaten action against you for failing to respond, again, appearing to come from a legitimate company.

Legitimate companies WILL NOT request personal information through email. If you receive one of these emails, safely assume in such cases it is email fraud or one of the countless phishing scams out there today. If you receive any email of suspicious nature, DELETE IT IMMEDIATELY, and DO NOT respond or act on whatever the email states. Always remember, most companies, including financial institutions, WILL NEVER send customers an e-mail asking for passwords, account numbers or personal information. If you receive such an email, assume it is email fraud or one of those phishing scams circulating today.

Latest Email Fraud And Phishing Scams: Be on the ALERT for ANY legitimate-looking emails that seem to originate from PayPal, Ebay, IRS (U.S. Internal Revenue Service), and even countless banking institutions. Most of these companies WILL NOT EMAIL YOU. Delete these messages immediately! Chances are likely, such emails are linked to email fraud and/or phishing scams!

Then MAKE SURE TO DELETE all emails pertaining to lottery wins or inheritance gained. As for lotteries, you cannot win any lottery of any kind for which you have never entered in the first place! As for all other emails pertaining to 'new found wealths' (i.e. lost millions found, inheritance, etc.)... delete these emails. These emails are all scams!

View the following tips for email fraud prevention and email safety:

  • Do not provide confidential personal or banking information to anyone in an email.
  • Be suspicious of email attachments from unknown sources, DO NOT OPEN THE ATTACHMENTS, EVER!
  • If you do not know or recognize the sender of the email, do not open the attachment (delete the email immediately).
  • Do not set your email program to 'auto-run' attachments.
  • Always check that emails you have received do not contain viruses by running your anti-virus software when the email attachment is received.
  • WHEN IN DOUBT WITH ANY EMAIL, SIMPLY DELETE THE EMAIL!

Email Fraud, Phishing Scams, And Fake Emails Will Often:

  • Ask you for personal information. Fake emails (email fraud and phishing scams) often contain an overly generic greeting and may claim that your information has been compromised, that your account has been frozen, or ask you to confirm the authenticity of your transactions.
  • Appear to be from a legitimate source. While some emails are easy to identify as fraudulent, (i.e. email fraud or phishing scams) others may appear to be from a legitimate address and trusted online source. They simply fool so many online consumers because these emails look so real. However, you should not rely on the name or address in the 'From' field, as this is easily altered. Remember, most of these major reputable companies WILL NOT SEND emails to their clients. Look at the URL of the online source! Read this example of email fraud, from an online consumer who chose to report Internet fraud to Guardian eCommerce Security: the complaintee received a legitimate-looking email and was dooped into paying a $1500 fee for a cash loan from 'Great West Bank'. However, one look at the URL of the legitimate-looking Web site she was automatically linked to (from the email) showed that instead of viewing the site with http://www.greatwestbank.com in the url address field, she was connected to http://www.greatvvestbank.com, (look closely, the vv or 'vee vee' looks like a w or 'double-you' in the address field, which easily fooled her). Instead of being connected to the real legitimate site for Great West Bank, she was connected to a spoof or fake site instead. Typical of email fraud or phishing scams, they will fool you!
  • Contain fraudulent job offers. Some fake emails appear to be from companies offering jobs. These are often work-at-home accounting positions which are actually schemes that victimize both the job applicant and other customers. Be sure to confirm that the job offer is from a known and trusted company or else safely initiate email fraud prevention.
  • Contain prizes or gift certificate offers. Some phishing scams or perpetrators of email fraud promise a prize or gift certificate in exchange for completing a survey or answering questions. In order to collect the alleged prize or gift certificate you may be directed to provide your personal information. Just like with job offers, be sure to confirm that prize or gift certificate is being issued from a known and trusted company.
  • Link to counterfeit Web sites. Phishing scams or fake emails may direct you to counterfeit Web sites carefully designed to look real, but which actually collect personal information for illegal use. This is arguably the ugliest form of email fraud!
  • Link to real Web sites. In addition to links to counterfeit Web sites, some phishing scams or fake emails also include links to legitimate Web sites. The perpetrators of email fraud do this in an attempt to make a fake email appear real!
  • Contain fraudulent phone numbers. Fake emails or phishing scams often contain telephone numbers that are tied to the fraudsters. Never call a number featured on an email you suspect is fraudulent, and be sure to double-check any numbers you do call.
  • Contain real phone numbers. Some of the telephone numbers listed in fake emails may be legitimate, connecting to actual companies. Just like with links, fraudsters include the real phone numbers in an effort to make the email appear to be legitimate. Don't be fooled by fake 1-800 toll free numbers neither!
  • Contain anything that seems too good to be true. If it seems too good to be true, it usually is! Don't be fooled by fake emails or phishing scams seeking fees-for-loans, fees-for-jobs, membership premiums for lottery clubs, or promising improved IRS refunds, and/or etc. There are literally thousands of these kinds of emails circulating right now! DON'T BE FOOLED!

Remember NO government agency, bank, or other legitimate functioning company will contact you by email. Specifically, if you receive an email from any one of the companies listed below, simply delete the message, (it is likely email fraud). Report Internet fraud, report Internet scams, and/or report phishing scams always... help Guardian eCommerce's drive for a safe Internet community.

Report email fraud, report Internet scams, and/or report Internet fraud here >>

Special IRS Notice: If you receive an email from the IRS, (U.S. Internal Revenue Service), there is a 99.99% chance that this email is fake! Please forward this fake email to: for follow-up and investigation.

Consumer Alerts And Warnings

Issued By Top Companies

Please take a moment to read the following consumer alert notices and information from these major online entities:

  • Credit Card Companies: Visa, Mastercard, and Amex
  • Online Companies: eBay, PayPal, and StormPay
  • Wire Payment Companies: Western Union, and Wells Fargo
  • Institutions: MBNA, Bank Of America, Citibank, Wachovia, TD Canada Trust, Royal Bank, HSBC Holding, BB&T Corp, Washington Mutual, M & T Bank, Capital One, ING Direct, KeyCorp, ScotiaBank, Bank Of Montreal, SunTrust Bank, National City, U.S. Bancorp, Northern Trust, Comerica, JPMorgan Chase, and City National
  • Federal Government: U.S. Government Agencies and Canadian Government Agencies

Guardian eCommerce Security

FTC Top Consumer Alerts Issued

According to the FTC (Federal Trade Commission), online consumers lost over $270 million in 2005. The majority of these losses were a result of e-commerce activities revolving around consumer Internet fraud and/or consumer Internet scams. Soon, the FTC along with other agencies will release a set of national consumer fraud protection guidelines to protect online consumers.

Guardian eCommerce Security has provided this consumer alerts page to help online consumers avoid Internet fraud and most importantly, to avoid being financially victimized on the Internet. This consumer alert page revolves around the top 10 consumer fraud or consumer scams complaints filed in 2005 with Guardian eCommerce Security, which includes Internet auctions (22%), Internet services (10%), advance fee loans and credit protection (8%), shop-at-home/catalog sales (5%), foreign money offers (5%), prizes/sweepstakes and lotteries (4%), business opportunity and work-at-home plans (3%), telephone services (2%), health care (2%), foreign money orders (2%), and buyers clubs (2%). The remaining 37% of consumer fraud or consumer scam complaints received were trivial, in that they did not qualify for consumer alert status, (i.e. a consumer complaint about a horrible first date that originated from an online dating service).

Online Consumer Complaints

Top Ten Reported Internet Scams

Guardian eCommerce Security is dedicated to online consumer fraud protection, providing consumers with the tools they need to ensure Internet fraud prevention and avoid Internet scams. According to the FTC (Federal Trade Commission), the following is a consumer alert summary of the top 10 Internet fraud scams:

  • Consumer Alert - Internet Auctions: Online shopping in a 'virtual marketplace' that offers a huge selection of products at great deals in an online auction capacity. Internet Fraud Warning: After sending their money, online consumers say they've received an item that is less valuable than promised (i.e. fake jewelry), or worse yet, nothing at all. Online Safety Tip: When bidding especially through an Internet auction, particularly for a valuable item, check out the seller's information and insist on paying with a fraud protected credit card. Also, view our Guardian eCommerce Security Consumer Warning Notice.
  • Consumer Alert - Internet Access Services: Free money, simply for cashing a check. Internet Fraud Warning: Consumers say they've been 'trapped' into long-term contracts for Internet access or other Web service, with big penalties for cancellation. Online Safety Tip: If any payment arrives in your email or home, read it carefully and look for the conditions you're agreeing to, (upon accepting such payment). Read your phone bill and other utility bills carefully for unexpected or unauthorized charges. The safest approach to Internet fraud protection is to understand that in almost every single case, there is NO such thing as 'free money', or 'getting something' in return for giving nothing. Consider this before falling prey to this kind of consumer fraud.
  • Consumer Alert - Credit Card Fraud: Surf the Internet and view endless adult content and/or images online for free, just for sharing your credit card number to prove that you are 18 years of age or older. Internet Fraud Warning: Internet users have reported that these, (and similar scams involving credit card number disclosure) are nothing more than Internet scams, in most cases. Credit card fraud is a huge Internet problem, and easily avoidable. For example, fraudulent adult Web site promoters have used consumer credit card numbers to run up charges on their cards with these scams. It has also been documented that these sites may also engage in identity theft. Online Safety Tip: Share credit card information only when buying from an Internet business or Web site you can trust. Ideally, make absolutely sure that the Web site is verified and approved by a reputable, non-objective third party organization like Guardian eCommerce Security. Always dispute unauthorized charges on your credit card bill by officially disputing with the bank that issued the card. Depending where you live, federal law limits liability in credit card fraud charges.
  • Consumer Alert - Free Online Adult Access: Get free access to adult material and pornography by downloading a 'viewer' or a computer program. Internet Fraud Warning: Many of these are Internet scams involving long-distance charges on phone bills. Through the program, modems are disconnected, then reconnected to the Internet through an international long-distance number. Online Safety Tip: Don't compromise online safety and security by downloading any program from sources that cannot be trusted. Make sure the Web site is approved by a trusted third party like Guardian eCommerce Security. Just as important, review your bills carefully and challenge any charges not authorized by you.
  • Consumer Alert - Web Cramming Get a free custom-designed Web site for a 30-day trial period, with no obligation to continue. Internet Fraud Warning: this Internet scam includes charges on their telephone bills or a separate invoice, even if they never accepted the offer or agreed to continue the service after the trial period. Online Safety Tip: Review telephone bills and challenge any charges not recognized.
  • Consumer Alert - Internet Multilevel Marketing And Online Pyramids: Make money through products and services sold by the people recruited into the program. Internet Fraud Warning: Such Internet consumer scams involve buying into these plans and programs, but the customers are actually other distributors, not the general public. Some multi-level marketing programs are actually illegal pyramid scams. When products or services are sold only to distributors like yourself, there's no way to make money. Stay away from online pyramids, one of the worst Internet scams going. Online Safety Tip: Avoid Web sites that offer plans requiring you to recruit distributors, buy expensive inventory or commit to a minimum sales volume. Chances are, it's just consumer fraud in the making.
  • Consumer Alert - Online Travel and Vacation: Book a luxurious trip online with lots of lush 'extras' at a bargain-basement price. Internet Fraud Warning: Internet scams reported involve some online travel companies delivering lower-than-quality accommodations and services than they've advertised online, or no trip at all! Others have been hit with hidden charges or additional requirements after they've paid. Online Safety Tip: With something as important as travelling, get references on any online travel company you plan to do conduct business with. Then, get details of the trip in writing, including the cancellation policy, before signing on.
  • Consumer Alert - Online Business Opportunities:Be your own boss and earn big bucks. Internet Fraud Warning: Taken in by promises about potential earnings, many consumer complaints involve having invested in a 'biz ops' that turned out to be a 'biz flop'. Fraud Prevention Tip: Get all the promises and 'return on investment claims' in writing, and study the proposed contract carefully before accepting it. Get an attorney or an accountant to take a look at it too. As of May 2006, there are approximately 229 million different online 'business opportunities', it is expected that only 1% - 5% of these are legitimate.
  • Consumer Alert - Online Investment Companies: Make an initial investment in a to quickly realize huge returns. Internet Fraud Warning: Big profits always mean big risk! Some investment Internet scams identified show people have lost big money to programs that claim to be able to predict the market with great accuracy. Online Safety Tip: Check out the Web site or company with state and federal securities and commodities regulators. Even contact your local bank (investments department) and investigate before you invest! Contact other people who invested through the program and find out more about the investment risk and outcome. Online consumer fraud protection starts with you!
  • Consumer Alert - Online Health Care Products/Services: Items not sold through traditional suppliers are 'proven' to cure serious and even fatal health problems. Internet Fraud Warning: Claims for 'miracle' products and treatments convince consumers that their health problems can be cured. But people with serious illnesses who put their hopes in these offers might delay getting the health care they need. Online Safety Tip: Consult a health care professional before buying anything health-related online. There are so many products with suspect claims to treat a wide range of ailments or providing quick cures to serious illneses. Check with your country's health authority first! (For Americans: Food And Drug Administration and for Canadians: Health Canada), before purchasing any of these health-related miracle products.

Online Consumer Protection

Stay Alert. Stay Informed. Stay Protected

Most of the online consumer scams and Internet fraud threats outlined above cam be easily avoided. It's imperative online consumers stay alert and informed of all Internet fraud risks. Web sites engaged in activities of Internet fraud have no care for the online safety of consumers! Most of these suspect Web sites have not even been audited by a trusted third party site verifier, like the Guardian eCommerce Privacy Seal Program, so such sites should be easy to avoid. Online consumers should completely stay away from non-validated Web sites to ensure their online safety.

File A Complaint And Report Internet Fraud

Help Slow Internet Crime

To help fight Internet fraud and other Internet annoyances, online consumers should report Internet fraud always! Victims of Internet fraud should take action right now. Online consumers victimized by Internet scams, phishing scams, or other Internet fraud crimes, or know of Web sites operating in an manner that is financially destructive or compromises consumer online safety, file a complaint, report Internet fraud, and report Internet scams here immediately! Other Internet fraud protectiom measures, online safety tips, and consumer protection resources can be found below. Don't forget to visit Guardian eCommerce Forums, a place for online consumers and Internet business owners to interact. Please visit Guardian eCommerce FORUMS for online consumers to help others avoid Internet fraud and other scams!

Fraud Prevention/Online Safety Tips

Consumer Protection Resource

  • Internet ScamBusters: is dedicated to fraud prevention and Internet fraud protection. Learn more about online safety tips and Internet scams. Recommended by several Forbes companies and by Guardian eCommerce Security.
  • Federal Trade Commission (FTC): a federal agency that fights to ensure the online safety and security of consumers. File a complaint, report Internet fraud, or report Internet scams to the FTC or learn more about existing consumer Internet scams and online safety tips documented by the FTC. View the the FTC consumer alerts page, for more Internet fraud warnings and online safety tips.
  • Consumers World: is recommended by Guardian eCommerce Security, and it enables people to learn more about pressing online safety and Internet fraud issues.
  • Federal Communications Commission (FCC), based in USA, has a great Web site for people interested in learning more about consumer fraud protection. Find an updated consumer alerts page where consumers can file a complaint or report Internet fraud.
  • Internal Revenue Service (IRS): based in USA, has also put together an informative consumer fraud protection package, providing a consumer alerts page about current consumer Internet scams.
  • Industry Canada: offers a wealth of information for Canadian consumers. Plenty of consumer fraud protection links here, consumers can file a complaint or report Internet fraud too.
  • Consumer Sentinel: is also recommended by Guardian eCommerce Security. Here consumers will gain a wealth of knowledge on issues pertaining to consumer fraud protection and Internet scams, with an area for consumers to file a complaint or report Internet fraud.
  • First Gov For Consumers: is a U.S. based Web site offering information to aid consumer fraud prevention. Consumers can file a complaint or report Internet fraud.
  • eConsumer.gov: is an online safety resource for consumers, and it's sponsored by 17 world nations. file a complaint or report Internet fraud or learn more about consumer fraud prevention on a global scale.
  • Consumer Action: is a informative consumer fraud prevention Web site, file a complaint and report Internet fraud here, and get consumer alert, online safety and fraud prevention tips.
  • Guardian eCommerce Security: get credit card fraud prevention tips here with 20 tips how consumers can avoid credit card fraud.
  • Guardian eCommerce Forums: join others online to discuss Internet fraud prevention and online safety tips.