Several legitimate companies sell their products on trade portals. Millions of transactions take place on the Internet everyday. Majority of the buyers and sellers are completely satisfied with the dealings. Unfortunately, there is a small percentage of online traders who fall prey to Internet scams. The victims of online forgery are left utterly dissatisfied, disillusioned and out of pocket. However, you can easily identify swindlers or fraudulent companies and avoid Internet scams by bearing in mind the following tips -

     Tips to Avoid Internet Scams

• Get information before dealing with unknown sellers
  
  If the seller is unfamiliar, try to get information about the dealer from the local consumer     protection  agency. You can also read the feedback from other customers, which can       unravel key information about their experiences and level of satisfaction while dealing    with the seller. However, it does not necessarily indicate that the seller is legitimate if         nobody has reported a complaint. Fraudulent sellers are active on their account for a short      span of time. To avoid possible complications, note down the contact details of the seller.

• Verify the pattern of client servicing
  
  It can be extremely troublesome to satisfy complaints if the seller is not local. To avoid this   mishap, verify that the seller offers client servicing for handling possible disputes and also      ensure that the products meet the declared specifications and quality standards.

• Demand for details
  
  Legitimate sellers can satisfy your queries regarding product or service details. You can        clarify details such as total service cost, delivery time, order cancellation policies, refunds,    and warranty terms.

• Be wary of contests promoted by unfamiliar companies
  
  Phony companies sometimes offer deceptive contest entry forms to obtain personal   information of potential victims.

• Delete unsolicited e-mails
  
  Unsolicited e-mails are normally fraudulent. Replying to such mails only verifies that your e-mail account is active and it leads to more unsolicited e-mails from random senders. Hence, it is better to delete unsolicited e-mails the minute you spot them.

• Posers pose a threat
  
  Imposters can sent fraudulent e-mails stating that they are connected with a well-known       business. They can also design websites that look strikingly similar to the websites of      popular companies. If you have any doubts regarding the seller, find alternate options to contact the legitimate business and confirm.

• Do not disclose personal information
  
  Do not disclose credit card numbers or your bank account details unless you want to purchase something with certainty. Your social security number is unnecessary unless you apply for credit.

• Use credit cards for making online payments
  
  Credit cards offer the safest option to make payments for online purchases. You can dispute the charges for false offers and products that never reached your door. Moreover, credit card companies offer advanced security options in case somebody tries to misuse your credit card details.

• Download programs from trusted websites
  
  Be careful while executing programs for viewing pictures, listening to music, etc. It could be a virus that may delete important data from your computer, or install harmful spyware and malware. It is safe to use programs of trusted companies. It is also advisable to read user agreements carefully before installing the program.