Fake Online StoreFront Phishing Scam

PROBLEM

A con that goes all the way back to the beginning of the World Wide Web is coming back strong. Fake online storefronts set up just to harvest credit card information. These sites are a pure form of Fraud and their victims can face multiple identity theft issues.

In this scam, thieves build Web sites purveying everything from sporting goods to contact lenses at cheap prices. They drive people to the site with spam. The Web sites look real because of pictures and descriptions of goods they take from real online stores. They even put up phony privacy or security policies.

The average phishing site usually has a lifespan of a few hours to three days before banks and Internet service providers locate and scuttle them. Fake e-commerce sites can stay in business for six to eight days before their operators close up shop and disappear. With a huge harvest of Credit Card Numbers ready for the Black Market.

SOLUTION

Do not visit sites that are advertised through Spam. And be extremely cautious about conducting business with a company you have not dealt with online. These fake stores will never have credit card processing ability. When conducting business with a new obscure merchant, call your credit card company to verify that you were in fact billed. Most online stores process the transaction instantly while others let them accumulate for the day. Make sure the charge shows up on your statement. If you want to be extra cautious if the charge doesn't show immediately, cancel the card. I would recommend waiting no more than 24 hours to find the charge. If the bank can't find it, cancel the card.