Internet fraud is something that unfortunately must be dealt with by everyone using online services such as our Hang Glider Classified Ads department. Here at the E Team Classifieds some of our advertisers have been hit by internet fraud. Hopefully, by understanding how to identify and deal with internet fraud, you will be able to have a better transaction experience using the internet as an advertising media.

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 other connected with the scheme.

If you use the Internet with any frequency, you'll soon see that people and things online tend to move, as the saying goes, on "Internet time." For most people, that phrase simply means that things seem to happen more quickly on the Internet -- business decisions, information-searching, personal interactions, to name a few - and to happen before, during, or after ordinary "bricks-and-mortar" business hours.

Unfortunately, people who engage in fraud often operate in "Internet time" as well. They seek to take advantage of the Internet's unique capabilities -- for example, by sending e-mail messages worldwide in seconds, or posting Web site information that is readily accessible from anywhere in the world - to carry out various types of fraudulent schemes more quickly than was possible with many fraud schemes in the past.

The specific type of fraud being used on our site tends to deal with people who act as though they wish to purchase your equipment. They sometimes even ask for more pictures and the year of your glider manufacturing date. Then they ask for the price again. The next email may infrom you that they have sent payment and need your contact info so that thier US contact can pick up and ship the item. Next you receive cashiers checks or money orders or travelers checks for more than the asking price. The envelope will contain a note telling you to send the remainder to them and keep $50 for your trouble. Or something to this effect. Bottom line is that the checks are bogus and you just lost up to a couple of grand to someone in Nigeria and no one picks up the glider.

So it's up to you to recognise the signs of fraud so as not to become a victim. If I am suspicious I will ask the interested party how long they have been flying and where they do most of thier flying at. I'll tell them I want to know in order to qualify their skill level, or something like that. Anything to see if they are really a pilot or not. If I get no response then fine. I'm done with it. If I get a repsonse like, "I'm not flying anything right now", then it's probably a hoax. If it's, "I'm not flying anything right now and have been out of the sport for 5 years but I'm wanting to get back in" then I'll continue with the sale.

What ever you do online be carefull and trust no one. Do not deliver or release goods untill you are SURE the checks have cleared the bank. This includes money orders, travelers checks and cashiers checks. Never give out your personal information to anyone on line and always make sure you have a phone number for the person you are doing business with. Then call the number to make sure.