online business reports

Online fraud alert ( Ticket index ), June 2011

2011-06-10T16:57:00.000+01:00

Online fraud alert ( Ticket index ), June 2011

Recently the Action Fraud site has received a lot of claims and contacts regarding Ticket index “an online ticketing company” (June 2011)

The customers (claimers) have notified Action Fraud that they purchased tickets from that site which have not received or delivered. In this stage Action Fraud has recorder a crime report and placed it to the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) at the City of London Police

If any of our users or visitors or if you know anyone who is a victim of such fraud, then the best way and the easiest way to respond is by reporting your claim to the Action Fraud Site, at: http://www.actionfraud.org.uk/report_fraud , by doing such action (reporting) you will have a crime reference number to your claim which will passed to the (NFIB). Alternatively you can contact the Action Fraud helpline on 0300 123 2040

This post based on the alert provided by the Action Fraud site:

http://www.actionfraud.org.uk/fraud-alert-ticket-index-website-june11

Internet Marketing

2011-06-10T11:09:00.002+01:00

Internet marketing

The definition of internet marketing, and the legitimate internet marketing

“Online marketing”, “web marketing”, “digital marketing”, “email marketing”, “e-mail marketing”, “online advertising”, “internet advertising”, “a legal review in online marketing”

Our post today examines the legitimacy of internet marketing in addition to its definitions. So let’s start:

Definitions:

“Marketing” means: the activity set of certain body or person for the purposes of creating, reaching, facilitating, communicating, delivering and exchanging the provided offers that have a value for customers or for the targeted group

“Internet marketing” means: that kind of marketing (the definition above) that based on using the internet features and tools to reach to a large number of internet usage. Internet marketing covers most of the terms of marketing that identify below

“Online marketing” means: that kind of marketing that uses direct tools (live) which presented by online instruments such as wireless media

“Web marketing” means: that kind of marketing that exchanged via the web, by using the provided service of the web pages, such as banners

“Digital marketing” means: that kind of marketing that uses the tools provided from digital media and features, it considers as one of the types of online marketing

“Email marketing”, “E-mail marketing” means: that kind of marketing that uses email messages as a direct tool to communicate and exchange the provided offers for the customers

“Affiliate marketing” means: a process or number of processes that an active seller of a product or service that owns by the developer (owner), in return of a share of a profit. This process is considered as one of the tools that e-commerce businesses created. However, an owner in such kind of marketing may provide some helpful and extra tools to the seller that can help him to sell the product or service such as a letter, links, statistics or any other facilitate tools

“Advertising” means: the form of communication that a product or service might present by (text, images, videos...etc) to the customers to take action regarding that product or service

“Internet advertising” means: that kind of communication that set by a person or body via the internet which aims to present a product or service to the internet usage for the purpose set by the advertiser

“Online advertising” means: that kind of communication that present directly (live) by the advertiser to present his product or service to the online customers, by using for example the tool of wireless media and many others tools

The legitimacy of internet marketing and advertising:

In order to set, create, or use internet marketing or advertising in a legitimate way, you are required to abide the legal requirements governed such kind of activity, which are briefly:

1. A legitimate aim or purpose. You are required to set and identify your aims and purposes of using such kind of marketing or advertising in a way that corresponds with the legal requirements established in regard to communicate and exchange offers in distance, (avoid scam and fraud intentions)

2. A legitimate product, idea or service. You are required to market or advertise a legitimate product or service in which you are responsible legally in front of the person you deal with, by presenting a well description and enough information to that customer (avoid any illegal services or products, and avoid ignorance)

3. A legitimate tool. You are required to use a direct and clear tools that allow your customers to understand and acknowledge what you are marketing or advertising (no hidden defects or links)

4. Permission. You are required to ask for permission before you start any kind of communication or exchanging with your customers, as such permission will assure the legality of your activity. Without a permission your activity shall deem illegal (scam or spam) as it will consider unwanted or unsolicited which is prohibited under the governed laws

These are the most important keys that you should adopt and apply in order to make your activities seem legit

The differences between online (internet) marketing and online (internet) advertising:

1. Internet marketing is wider than internet advertising in respect of the definition, scope and use, as online advertising considers as one of the tools that online marketing have

2. The purpose of online marketing can attach or relate to creating a new or special kind of business, while online advertising purpose to communicate with online users to present what a business or marketing can present or provide to those users

3. The use of online (internet, digital...) marketing have many tools to be used to achieve the seeking purpose and require more knowledge and responsibility that deem wider than the use of online advertising

4. The targeted customers that an online marketing are wider than that targeted by online advertising, basing on the differences between the purpose and the use of these two tools

5. The income that an online marketing might achieve considers more and higher that that an online advertising might make

There are many other differences but these are the main ones

Hope that you find this post useful and helpful, for more information or for any legal advice please feel free to place your comment or question under this post. Thank you in advance

Mohammad Al-Thunibat

“E-commerce Lawyer”

2011-05-16T17:06:00.001+01:00

Warning from the police regarding CASH MACHINE crimes (UK)

16-May-2011, Police officers in the UK demonstrate how criminals commit cash machine crimes and how the public’s can avoid such kind of crimes and frauds

Briefly, the advises are:

Ø First you should concern about choosing the right cash machine that you will use

Ø Second, keep in mind these recommendations:

1. Do not get distracted

2. Do not use any cash machine in front of a suspicious person to you

3. Always use your free hand to cover the other hand you use to type the password

Ø Third, recommendations before leaving:

1. Secure your money and receipt before leaving (at the end of the transaction)

2. Report any incident immediately to your bank

Ø Finally, you should monitor your account by adopting the protection services that your bank provided, such as “ Protect My ID”

TAKEN FROM: (For more details or to report a fraud please visit):

http://www.actionfraud.org.uk/cash-machine-crime-warning-may11

Last chance to apply for tickets for the London 2012 Olympics

2011-05-06T10:37:00.000+01:00

Last chance to apply for tickets for the London 2012 Olympics (the latest online scam in the UK)

http://www.actionfraud.org.uk warning online users (those interested in the Olympics) that there are number of sites claim that they permitted (autherised) to sell Olympic tickets and there is no time left to buy them. Those fraudulent sites look or seem legitimate, but there are not permitted to sell such tickets

The action fraud advices are:

1. Do not buy a ticket from any site except the www.tickets.london2012.com which is the formal site to the Olympics (for the UK citizens)

2. There are two other ways to buy such tickets (by a postal application from any Lloyds TSB branch, or from any public library in Northern Ireland). Decrease the possibility of being scammed

3. You have the right to return the ticket you bought if you are not able to attend any of games, and you will be refund. Your previous ticket will be officially sold

4. The official providers for Games Breaks and Hospitality Packages in the UK are: ( Thomas Cook, Prestige Travel, Jet Set Travel )

5. Important site to contact in case of scam ( brandprotection@london2012.com or report the scam to your local police)

Our resource: http://www.actionfraud.org.uk/last-chance-to-apply-for-tickets-for-the-london-2012-olympics-april11 (please visit it for more information)

Report A Scam (US and INTERNATIONALLY)

2011-04-30T11:18:00.002+01:00

Report a scam (US)

If you were a victim of a scam that made by an individual or a company in the US or if you have a suspicious about such actions, then you can report any scam to one of the follow sites (governmental sites), which will receive your report in order to deal with it as it should be. See for example:

Ø Federal Trade Commission:

The process is simple to be followed by any user without any need to ask anyone to help you. But before start anything it is recommended to read this site policy:

http://www.ftc.gov/ftc/privacy.shtm

This link will lead you to the form: https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/FTC_Wizard.aspx?Lang=en

Although, if you were a victim of scam by a person who lives outside your country, then you may report that scam to:

Ø Econsumer.org:

This site is established In April of 2001, responding to the challenges of multinational Internet fraud, and working to enhance consumer protection and consumer confidence in e-commerce, 13 countries unveiled econsumer.gov, a joint effort to gather and share cross-border e-commerce complaints. Today, consumer protection agencies in 26 countries participate in this initiative

It is recommended to read “about us”, “members” and “privacy policy” before submitting your complaint to this organization (site)

The form contains the follow sections:

https://econsumer.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/

1. Your contact information

2. Your complaint

3. Additional comments

Note: You do not need to complete every field. However, 3 fields are required - these are marked with a *. The more information you provide, the more useful your complaint will be

Hope that you find this post useful

Mohammad Al-Thunibat
http://e-commercelawyer.blogspot.com/

Report A Scam (UK)

2011-04-30T11:13:00.003+01:00

Report a scam (UK)

One of the important tools to avoid and fight scams is by reporting them, if you were a victim of a scam or when you suspicious one

This tool is important to be used by all of us to decrease the huge number of scam actions via the internet, it is an obligatory action nowadays especially if you were a victim, as others rely on such reports to help them avoid such kind of actions whilst using the internet

Consumer direct.gov.uk provides to the UK citizens an opportunity to report any online scam, by filling a simple report that presented in this link: https://secure.consumerdirect.gov.uk/reportascam.aspx

This report contains four sections:

1. Details about trader

2. Details about the scam

3. Details about the reporter

4. How did you know about their service

After you finish you can click submit

Note: do not use such tool to harm others, (Please be aware it is a criminal offence under sections 5(2) of the 1967 criminal law act if you knowingly make a false report) http://www.actionfraud.org.uk/report-a-fraud/how-to-report-a-fraud

For more details and advices visit:

http://www.direct.gov.uk

Mohammad Al-Thunibat
http://e-commercelawyer.blogspot.com/

DVLA scam email warning 2011

2011-04-27T11:51:00.000+01:00

2011, A Scam Report from the DVLA via DirectGov site:

DVLA is warning all the UK citizens ( drivers )from e-mail scams that use its name, asking people to verify their driving licence details. DVLA has never asked for such details or sent such e-mails, therefore you must not respond to these e-mails and you must delete them immediately

The form of the scam e-mails:

click on the picture to read the content

This report is taken from:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Nl1/Newsroom/DG_194193

Top simple tips to protect your privacy

2011-04-26T15:56:00.000+01:00

Top tips to protect your privacy

As we know, internet becomes a rich field for scammers and spammers, which therefore your data and information are in risk of being theft by one of these crooks. In order to decrease the potential of being an easy target person, you are recommended to apply the follow tips:

Ø Always adjust your privacy setting while using social network sites, such as Facebook, Twitter...etc. You can do that by opening your account and look for setting or privacy settings and adjust these settings in a protective way

Ø Change your password frequently, by this tool you can make sure that your password cannot be used by others easily, as you will increase the percentage of security by doing that

Ø Opt-out of ad tracking, this tip related to what it calls cookies which use by some network sites which install cookies to your computer in order to monitor your online activities which will lead them to know what kind of activities you usually do or interested in. In order to avoid such risk you can adjust your web browser setting by disable cookies from third party websites (block cookies)

Ø Do not use any web browser to check your bank or any financial details, do not use unsecure browsers (other computers or public wifi connections) while surfing your personal sites especially online banking or any other financial sites. Always use your own secure connection and computer to do so, as you do not know if that browser or connection is secure enough to use it for such important data or not

Ø Always delete your browsing history, especially when you use public connection or computer which will help you to secure your privacy. You can do so by using browser tools which contains (internet options) or by going to safety icon, which allow you to delete your browsing history

Ø Do not use your personal information as a term of searching using search engines, especially your name, address, credit card numbers, or any similar data

There are other tips and tools you can use to protect your privacy but it is good and recommended to start with these

How to Investigate Online?

2011-04-25T12:36:00.000+01:00

How to investigate about online business or offers, and where?

One of the important basics that I recommended, usually, to my friends or to any person (consumers) use the internet to buy or to sell, is to investigate before starting his/ her transaction. This tool is truly deemed the guarantee to consumers while purchasing through the internet. However, most of online consumers do not know how to investigate or where, so I’m writing this post to highlight the most secure and common sites that you can use in doing so

Ø How to investigate?

In this part, you should know that there is no need to rush your online activities, especially when you deal with unknown person to you. Therefore, you should start collecting that party data (name, address, e-mail...etc), in order to be able to evaluate his/ her status which you should base on to decide dealing with him/ her or not

The mechanism to investigate relies on the nature of your activity and its place. As if you are dealing with a person who owns a site then you should investigate that person details in addition to his site. While, if you are dealing with a person who sell through trusty sites (such as Amazon or eBay) then you should investigate the status of that person by checking the evaluation of his transaction that the trusty sites, usually, provide

Ø Where to investigate?

There are many tools that you can apply to investigate about a person or a site, which are mostly free through the internet. The first tool that you can use is by searching via www.allwhois.com, this site will give all the data you need about the domain name that you are dealing with, in which you can compare between the provided data that this site gave to you with the data that the seller or the site provided to you

The second tool that you can use is by searching via the governmental sites that provide to consumers some reports about fraud sites or offers in addition to valuable advices that you can adopt in your online activities. Although, such sites give you the right to place a claim in case of fraud or scam; see for examples:

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/consumer.shtm (US)

http://www.oft.gov.uk/consumer-advice/ (UK)

The final tool that you can use if you are buying via trusty sites is by searching through the provided history of the seller (previous activities or transactions), which the trusty sites obliged to provide to their users; see for example:

eBay.com

For more details please leave your comment or question and I’ll do my best to replay as soon as possible

by, Mohammad Al-Thunibat
resource: http://e-commercelawyer.blogspot.com/

Tips To Avoid Online Scam

2011-04-24T18:21:00.000+01:00

Ten Tips That Can Help Internet Users To Avoid Online Scam

1. Don’t send money to someone you don’t know.

2. Don’t respond to messages that ask for your personal or financial information.

3. Don’t play a foreign lottery.

4. Keep in mind that wiring money is like sending cash: once it’s gone, you can’t get it back.

5. Don’t agree to deposit a check from someone you don’t know and then wire money back.

6. Read your bills and monthly statements regularly—on paper and online.

7. In the wake of a natural disaster or another crisis, give to established charities rather than one that seems to have sprung up overnight.

8. Talk to your doctor before buying health products or signing up for medical treatments.

9. When considering an investment, remember that there’s no such thing as a sure thing.

10. Know where an offer comes from and who you’re dealing with.

Reference: http://www.onguardonline.gov/topics/avoiding-scams.aspx (recommended to visit)

Top Ten Scams for 2011

2011-04-24T14:12:00.000+01:00

Top Ten Scams for 2011

The resource of these activities is: http://mbc.bbb.org/article/better-business-bureau-announces-top-ten-scams-for-2011-24868

1. Door-to-Door Scams

2. Not-so-Free Trial Offers

3. Anti-Social Network

4. Advance Fee Loans

5. Phishing, Vishing, and Smishing

6. Relative Scam

7. Job Scams

8. Business Opportunities

9. Business Directory Scams

10. Overpayment Scams

We recommend all of the US and Canadian users to check these sites reguraly in order to get more data and knowledge regarding consumer protection and protection from scams:

www.bbb.com

www.usa.gov

http://www.competitionbureau.gc.ca/eic/site/cb-bc.nsf/eng/home

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/consumer.shtm

Users from the UK:

http://www.oft.gov.uk/consumer-advice/

http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/

Others:

www.econsumer.gov

http://www.consumersinternational.org/

Internet Usage Globally

2011-04-24T13:33:00.000+01:00

Internet Usage Globally (figures)
According to http://www.internetworldstats.com/ the usage of the internet around the world are:

The usage of the internet in the America:

The usage of the internet in the EU:

The usage of the internet in Asia:

The usage of the internet in the Middle East:

Finally, the top 20 countries: