Phishing – Phishing is a scheme where criminals use another person’s email or website to try and trick the visitor into divulging personal information such as passwords or financial information.

Spoofing – When a person pretends to be someone else by using their website or email.

Identity Theft – When a person steals another person’s personal info.

Credit/Debit Card Fraud – Unauthorized use of credit card or debit card to obtain money or items.

Non-Delivery of Goods/Services –  When goods or services that have been paid for, are never delivered to the person who paid for them.

Online Auction – Misrepresentation of a product advertised online or the failure of delivery of a product purchased online.

Advance Fee Schemes – When the victim of fraud must pay large fees before receiving money or merchandise, and then they receive nothing in return.

Trust seals, also known as web seals, trust marks, or verification seals are small images placed on a website to verify that they are a legitimate business.  They are designed to ease a consumer’s mind about online fraudulent activities.  They let consumers know that the business follows specific practices, and a detailed privacy policy.  It means that the website is willing to have its business verified by a third party, because in order to display legitimate trust seals, merchants go through an extensive verification process.

BBB online trust seals are awarded to businesses that meet the verification process that they have in place.  BBB online monitors compliance frequently.  When using the internet, consumers must be sure they are looking out for trust seals from companies like the BBB online.