Week 2 – Auction FraudWhat is Auction Fraud?Internet Auction Fraud is the use of the Internet for an online transaction between a buyer and a seller for use deceptive means to defraud the buyer, including failing to deliver goods, intentionally delivering defective goods, or delivering promised or purchased goods of lower quality than mentioned. Auction fraud can occur in places like Ebay, where the potential for auction fraud is high. Especially for overseas sellers. I have also been a victim of auction fraud. If one is not careful and is able to research who they are buying from to confirm that they are a legitimate seller, they are opening themselves up to fraud. Some things, like Ebay, have a strong investigative team in place to look into any reported cases of fraud, although it takes time. Other things in place are disclaimers warning people of fraud and what to do if they find themselves in a fraudulent situation. Two measures taken by law enforcement to combat auction fraud are working with the FTC and companies like Ebay to monitor, bring down perpetrators and arrest them, as well as assist the victim in the investigation and locate the purchased merchandise. The victim will receive the purchased merchandise, or receive a refund if the item cannot be located, once the investigation is completed. Other than that, there really isn't much that law enforcement can do more to investigate auction fraud, although there are private organizations now growing to do so. Including CUFF, or Citizens United to Find Fugitives (CUFF). They all band together to track down fugitives in cases like the auction and... middle of paper... somewhere else. This could mean that you have become the target of a phishing scam, which is just the beginning of auction fraud. The site you may be directed to may be less secure, full of malware, and programmed to obtain credit card numbers or other personal information. Also, if you get an email from what appears to be a reputable site telling you you have another chance, don't do it. Contact that site immediately and report it, as well as delete the email you receive. Popular sites like Ebay and Yahoo don't send such emails at all. These are just a few of the many ways you can protect yourself from Internet and auction crimes! The only person who can protect you is yourself. Be careful when visiting websites where you use your credit card to buy things online, as with today's technology, your security could be taken and destroyed in a second with one misstep.