Ask questions and be vigilant. Legitimate traders will willingly and
promptly answer questions.
Beware of companies that only provide a fax number or an email
address in their contact. Also keep in mind that a well done, attractive
website doesn’t necessarily mean that the company is legitimate
and honest.

Companies based in Nigeria and Indonesia are showing the highest
signs of internet fraud and members should be extra careful when
dealing with such companies.

For Buyers:
Request a sample to ensure the quality of the product. Make sure
the product meets your criteria before committing to a purchase.
Do Not accept to make payment by Western Union, or wire transfers.
These fraudulent sellers will try to entice buyers by posting the hottest
new items at low prices.

For Sellers:
Request a nominal payment from unknown buyers that ask for samples.
Beware of payments made by credit card. Fraudulent buyers tend
to ask sellers to split a large payment by 3-4 credit cards. These
tolen credit card numbers work, so the seller feels secure to send the
merchandise.

If an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is. Beware of curiously
high or low prices, as they are often fraudulent schemes.

Useful Links:

http://www.ic3.gov/
http://www.fraud.org/scamsagainstbusinesses/bizscams.htm
http://www.acfe.com/home.asp
http://www.fincen.gov/index.html
http://www.icginc.com/
http://www.scambusters.com/
http://www.bbb.org/