Answered Questions About Exterior Lighting for Home and Business Security

The following article presents the very latest information on exterior lighting for home and business security. If you have a particular interest in exterior lighting for home and business security, then this informative article is required reading.

We all want to keep our homes and businesses safe and well protected. There are many ways in which this can be accomplished. One, rather simple, method for assisting in this goal is often overlooked by the multitudes but is one of the most effective measures that can be taken in order to protect not only the property from intruders but also to protect those on the property from unnecessary injury due to an inability to see what is going on in the exterior after hours.

Seriously, poor lighting can make a home or business a much more attractive target than the house next door which has adequate exterior lighting. Home intruders may on occasion not be the sharpest tools in the shed but those who are successful in this line of work are only successful because they do understand the laws of opportunity. A dark shady area that is concealed from the view of others presents a far more attractive target to would be intruders than a well-lit and revealing access point into a home.

When designing the security plan for your home and business you really need to try and think like a criminal. If you were going to break into your home or business where would you try to gain entry? Those are the areas that need to be well lit and offer little in the way of concealment opportunities for those that would attempt to make an uninvited entrance. Do not build storage sheds near windows and doors. Instead, keep them away from these areas. Storage units provide concealment and shadow in areas where this should not be desired.

Not all security is simply from invasion. You should also be concerned about the health and welfare of those who live and work in your home or business. Having the area surrounding your home and business will not only reveal intruders but also obstacles, holes, and etc. that could pose risks of injury in addition to potential intruders. You should also keep in mind that not all intruders have only possessions in mind when they make their grand entrance. Making your home or business uninviting as a 'pit stop' for these criminal elements also makes it safer for your family, friends, coworkers, and employees.

The more authentic information about exterior lighting for home and business security you know, the more likely people are to consider you a exterior lighting for home and business security expert. Read on for even more exterior lighting for home and business security facts that you can share.

You do not need to light up your home or business like a military installation in order to achieve the very security you seek. Motion sensor lights that only light up the area in which motion is detected can prove basic enough protection in many cases without inviting the neighbors to complain about the never-ending daylight you manage to create.

Rope lights provide low level and decorative lights but they also invite passersby to take a look at your property. This in itself makes your property unattractive to intruders if there is any kind of regular traffic in your neighborhood or an active number of neighbors that walk dogs, star gaze, or engage in any other nocturnal activities.

If rope lights aren't appealing, many homes make judicious use of solar powered decorative lights, as part of their landscaping in addition to a hopeful deterrent to would be intruders. Combining two or more of the forms of exterior lighting discussed above could net even greater results. Prevention is always the best course of action when it comes to things such as home or business security as well as the protection of those who live and work in your home or business from potential harm due to inadequate exterior lighting.

These are all things that should be considered when creating a security plan for your home or business. Lighting is important for many reasons. Despite the fact that many people have top of the line security equipment and can't find their way across their lawns after lights are out far too few people bother to take the need for adequate exterior lighting seriously. Hopefully those who read this will have a new attitude when it comes to lighting up the night skies and keeping your home and business safe.

There's no doubt that the topic of exterior lighting for home and business security can be fascinating. If you still have unanswered questions about exterior lighting for home and business security, you may find what you're looking for in the next article.

CCTV Surveillance Devices Will Always Remain Either an Intrusion or Security

"Every breath you take

Every move you make

Every bond you break

Every step you take

I’ll be watching you"

Sounds familiar? These lines from Sting’s "Every Breath You Take" describe CCTV and other digital surveillance systems very well. But that’s just it. The electronic eyes hiding behind a pot of African lilies and irises could be doing just that while you’re wolfing down grilled steak or picking your nose.

If you only knew you were being watched, you’d be observing the niceties of urban living while dining in a posh restaurant, even with your back towards the crowd, because there’s no telling nowadays how you are watched and where you are watched.

The reason for the installation of CCTV surveillance systems in public places, is an offshoot of the infamous 9/11 surprise attacks on the World Trade Center in New York, on the Pentagon, and the Boeing 757 crash in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. These bred fear and terror in the heartland.

When CCTV surveillance is an intrusion

Nobody can be too careful these days. But for goodness sake, you’re just having dinner in the diner, not planning an attack. You’ve been a loyal customer ever since the diner opened in 1997, and now you are being watched by spy cameras that do not care if you’re a loyal customer or if you own the joint. The electronic eyes just watch coldly and without bias.

Electronic surveillance becomes an intrusion when you no longer feel safe or confident even in public lavatories and rest rooms. When surveillance is used for wrong purposes like identity theft, robbery, voyeurism, and spying on the neighbors and teachers, it assumes sinister undertones.

The knowledge that there is covert electronic surveillance somewhere in a public place has transformed the way people feel about themselves. It’s one thing to want people to notice you, and another thing to be ogled at in secret when you are least prepared for it.

People complain that they are feeling like criminals, conscious of their very behavior when they are just out there taking a break.

When surveillance is security

Homeowners who have video surveillance have the confidence knowing they can check on their family, pets, and property. If you are a business owner, CCTV surveillance can help you check on the volume or lack of customers, and the efficiency of your staff.

In schools electronic surveillance will deter any dastardly act and help security people respond immediately to explosive situations. In hospitals, the system can alert nurses and doctors to patients needing urgent assistance.

In airports and in other access points, electronic surveillances play crucial roles in preventing the entry of would-be or suspected terrorists in the country. To sum it up, electronic surveillance – covert or open – has its existence justified when it about national security.

There are always two sides of a dime. The issue about electronic surveillance remains a thorny one. Depending on which side of the coin you are, these CCTV surveillance devices will always remain either an intrusion or security.

Can Identity Theft Happen to You?

The Federal Trade Commission estimates that as many as 9 million Americans have their identities stolen each year. In fact, you or someone you know may have experienced some form of identity theft. 

The crime takes many forms. Identity thieves may rent an apartment, obtain a credit card, or establish a telephone account in your name.

You may not find out about the theft until you review your credit report or a credit card statement and notice charges you didn’t make—or until you’re contacted by a debt collector. 

Identity theft is serious. While some identity theft victims can resolve their problems quickly, others spend hundreds of dollars and many days repairing damage to their good name and credit record. 

Some consumers victimized by identity theft may lose out on job opportunities, or be denied loans for education, housing or cars because of negative information on their credit reports. In rare cases, they may even be arrested for crimes they did not commit.

How do thieves steal an identity?

Identity theft starts with the misuse of your personally identifying information such as your name and Social Security number, credit card numbers, or other financial account information. For identity thieves, this information is as good as gold. 

Skilled identity thieves may use a variety of methods to get hold of your information, including:

1. Dumpster Diving. They rummage through trash looking for bills or other paper with your personal information on it. 

2. Skimming. They steal credit/debit card numbers by using a special storage device when processing your card. 

3. Phishing. They pretend to be financial institutions or companies and send spam or pop-up messages to get you to reveal your personal information. 

4. Changing Your Address. They divert your billing statements to another location by completing a change of address form. 

5. Old-Fashioned Stealing. They steal wallets and purses; mail, including bank and credit card statements; pre-approved credit offers; and new checks or tax information. They steal personnel records, or bribe employees who have access. 

6. Pretexting.  They use false pretenses to obtain your personal information from financial institutions, telephone companies, and other sources.

What do thieves do with a stolen identity?

Once they have your personal information, identity thieves use it in a variety of ways. 

Credit card fraud: 

• They may open new credit card accounts in your name. When they use the cards and don't pay the bills, the delinquent accounts appear on your credit report. 

• They may change the billing address on your credit card so that you no longer receive bills, and then run up charges on your account. Because your bills are now sent to a different address, it may be some time before you realize there's a problem. 

Phone or utilities fraud: 

• They may open a new phone or wireless account in your name, or run up charges on your existing account. 

• They may use your name to get utility services like electricity, heating, or cable TV. 

Bank/finance fraud: 

• They may create counterfeit checks using your name or account number. 

• They may open a bank account in your name and write bad checks. 

• They may clone your ATM or debit card and make electronic withdrawals your name, draining your accounts. 

• They may take out a loan in your name. 

Government documents fraud: 

• They may get a driver's license or official ID card issued in your name but with their picture. 

• They may use your name and Social Security number to get government benefits. 

• They may file a fraudulent tax return using your information. 

Other fraud: 

• They may get a job using your Social Security number. 

• They may rent a house or get medical services using your name. 

• They may give your personal information to police during an arrest. If they don't show up for their court date, a warrant for arrest is issued in your name. 

How can you find out if your identity was stolen? 

The best way to find out is to monitor your accounts and bank statements each month, and check your credit report on a regular basis. If you check your credit report regularly, you may be able to limit the damage caused by identity theft. For more information, visit the Detect Identity Theft section.

Unfortunately, many consumers learn that their identity has been stolen after some damage has been done.

• You may find out when bill collection agencies contact you for overdue debts you never incurred. 

• You may find out when you apply for a mortgage or car loan and learn that problems with your credit history are holding up the loan. 

• You may find out when you get something in the mail about an apartment you never rented, a house you never bought, or a job you never held.

What to Do if You Suspect That Your Personal Information Has Been Used to Commit Fraud or Theft?

If you suspect that your personal information has been used to commit fraud or theft, take the following four steps right away. Follow up all calls in writing; send your letter by certified mail, and request a return receipt, so you can document what the company received and when; and keep copies for your files. 

Place a fraud alert on your credit reports and review your credit reports. Contact any one of the nationwide consumer reporting companies to place a fraud alert on your credit report. Fraud alerts can help prevent an identity thief from opening any more accounts in your name.

The company you call is required to contact the other two, which will place an alert on their versions of your report, too. 

Equifax: 1-800-525-6285

Experian: 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742)

TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289

In addition to placing the fraud alert on your file, the three consumer reporting companies will send you free copies of your credit reports, and, if you ask, they will display only the last four digits of your Social Security number on your credit reports.

Close the accounts that you know, or believe, have been tampered with or opened fraudulently. 

Contact the security or fraud department of each company where you know, or believe, accounts have been tampered with or opened fraudulently. Follow up in writing, and include copies (NOT originals) of supporting documents.

It's important to notify credit card companies and banks in writing. Send your letters by certified mail, return receipt requested, so you can document what the company received and when. Keep a file of your correspondence and enclosures.

When you open new accounts, use new Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) and passwords. Avoid using easily available information like your mother's maiden name, your birth date, the last four digits of your Social Security number or your phone number, or a series of consecutive numbers.

File a report with your local police or the police in the community where the identity theft took place. 

Get a copy of the police report or, at the very least, the number of the report. It can help you deal with creditors who need proof of the crime. If the police are reluctant to take your report, ask to file a "Miscellaneous Incidents" report, or try another jurisdiction, like your state police.

You also can check with your state Attorney General's office to find out if state law requires the police to take reports for identity theft. Check the Blue Pages of your telephone directory for the phone number or check www.naag.org for a list of state Attorneys General.

File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. 

By sharing your identity theft complaint with the FTC, you will provide important information that can help law enforcement officials across the nation track down identity thieves and stop them. 

The FTC also can refer your complaint to other government agencies and companies for further action, as well as investigate companies for violations of laws that the FTC enforces.

Protecting Yourself From Identity Theft Is Easier Than You Think

Your identity is stolen when someone uses your name, social security number, or other personal information to get credit cards or loans.  

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reports there were 9 million cases of identity theft last year with losses to consumers of more than $5 billion.  The simplest kind is credit card fraud, which accounts for over 60% of identity theft.

Get your free credit report

Check for identity theft by reviewing your credit report at least once a year.  You can get a free credit report every 12 months by calling (877) 322-8228 or online and the Annual Credit Report web site.  

Protect yourself

• Review your credit report for accounts you did not open and for account balances that are suspiciously high. 
• Only carry the credit and identification cards you need. Make copies of the cards you carry and keep them in a safe place. If your wallet disappears, you will have the information you need to report them as lost or stolen. 
• Do not respond to e-mail messages or telephone calls asking for personal and financial information. 

Identity theft warning signs

Here are the most common signs of identity theft:

• Your credit card statement has charges you did not make. 
• You get bills for accounts you never opened. 
• You are denied credit for no apparent reason. 
• Money is missing from your bank account. 

If your identity is stolen

• Get a copy of your credit report.  Note accounts you did not open and account balances that are suspiciously high. 
• Contact the major credit reporting companies. Ask them to place a “Fraud Alert” on your report. This alerts businesses to verify your identity before issuing credit and stops thieves from opening new accounts in your name. 
• File an “Identity Theft Police Report” at your local police station and keep a copy. 
• Contact companies that have reported accounts you did not open or charges you didn’t make. Send them a copy of your police report and a certified letter disputing the fraudulent charges.  
• Keep a record of your calls and letters.

How Can You and Your Family Be on Guard Against Financial Scams, Especially Those That Target the Elderly?

Try to deal only with businesses and other organizations you already know or that have been recommended. When in doubt, contact your state or county's consumer protection office (listed in the blue pages of your phone book) or the Better Business Bureau.

Get key details of a significant offer in writing and thoroughly check them out before agreeing to anything. Make sure you understand your responsibilities and the potential risks before entering into any transaction.

"If the person making the sales pitch only focuses on the benefits or the promised return and brushes over the costs and potential risks, the seller may not be acting in your best interest and the product may not be appropriate for you," warned Michael Benardo, manager of the FDIC's Financial Crimes Section.

Closely monitor credit card bills and bank statements. Look at your monthly statements as soon as they arrive and report a discrepancy or anything suspicious, such as a missing payment or an unauthorized withdrawal.

Periodically review your credit reports for signs that an ID thief is misusing your name. Credit reports, which are prepared by companies called credit bureaus, summarize each person's history of paying debts and other bills. If your credit report lists a credit card, a loan or a lease you never signed up for, chances are a con artist is attempting to commit fraud using your identity.

Under a new federal law, you are entitled to one free credit report each year from each of the nation's three major credit bureaus. Experts suggest spreading out your requests throughout the year to maximize your protection. To get a free report, call toll-free 1-877-322-8228.

Remember the red flags of a fraud. You can avoid scams or help determine if an ill or elderly relative is a victim or target of fraud if you know some of the classic warning signs. They include:

• Unsolicited offers from strangers or unfamiliar companies that sound too good to be true, including mail or phone calls proclaiming an elderly person to be the "winner" of prizes or investment "opportunities;"
• Requests to send money or bank account information before a promised product or service is delivered;
• Pressure to quickly say "yes" to a proposal, especially an oral offer to sell you financial products, household equipment or home repairs that you may not really need;
• Indications of cash shortages when the elderly person should have enough money coming in; and
• Checks payable to unfamiliar people or businesses for reasons that the elderly person can't explain.

Immediately report a fraud or theft to the proper authorities.

Don’t Make It Easy for Thieves to Access the Identity Information

Identity thieves will stop at nothing – not even the death of the intended victim – when it comes to stealing someone's personal information to commit fraud.

Crafty criminals look for personal details about the deceased in obituaries (in the newspaper or online), genealogy Web sites, death certificates and other sources. Armed with personal information – such as a full name, address and date of birth – an ID thief may be able to obtain a new Social Security card, a driver's license, or loans and credit cards, even though the victim is no longer alive.

FDIC Consumer News suggests that families consider the following actions after a loved one dies:

Limit the amount of personal information in obituaries. "It's a good idea to leave out the exact birth date of the deceased. If anything, provide only the birth year," said David Nelson, a fraud specialist in the FDIC's Financial Crimes Section.

Consider omitting a wife's maiden name because many financial institutions use a mother's maiden name as a security password. "If an obituary publicizes a woman's maiden name and lists her children, an identity thief may be able to use that and other information to order credit cards or otherwise go on a spending spree in the childrens' names," Nelson added.

Obtain several copies of the death certificate and then proceed to close bank, brokerage, credit card and other accounts as needed.

Ask your attorney or accountant for advice about closing and reopening accounts in survivors' names.

Also, quickly report the death to the fraud departments of all three major credit bureaus, which financial institutions rely on when handling credit applications, and the Social Security Administration.

"It's important to help prevent identity thieves from assuming the deceased person's identity before the estate is settled," explained Nelson. "Otherwise, there may be credit extended to the fraudsters that will need to be resolved before distributions can be made to heirs." 

These thieves are the lowest of the low.  Targeting the deceased should be a crime punishable by death from one thousand slices of a very dull knife.

Don’t make it easy for these thieves to access the information.  It is not something that we think about during a time of grief, but in today's world, we have to always be on our toes.

Important Checks to Detect and Avoid Fraudulent Wholesalers and Companies

Recently there has been an influx of fraudulent wholesalers and dubious bulk discount stores on the net. This article concentrates on how to detect such companies and what necessary checks must be carried out before investing in any business venture. 

To detect whether the wholesaler or the company, being dealt with is genuine or not, these checks must be considered.

• A professionally designed website with a good layout is not an indicator that the business is genuine. A lot of wholesalers do not have great looking sites but are registered and authentic businesses. Never EVER get convinced by the design of the site.
• Ensure that the wholesaler accepts payments via credit/debit cards and other online payment methods like paypal, nochex etc. If the company ask you to wire (BACS) money directly into their account then avoid trading with them as most definitely they are scamming you. Card payments in most cases can be easily traced and charged back whereas with money transfers, once the funds have left your account, they are gone forever.
• Try to talk to a representative of the company on the phone, it is always nice to talk to someone and clear your doubts.
• Visit their contact page and look for their contact/postal address. Try to determine whether it is a physical postal address or just a mailbox. If it’s a mailbox, find out why the wholesaler doesn’t have a proper postal address and where do they actually trade from?
• Request to visit their warehouse or trading office, even if there is no specific intention of doing so. Any fraudulent company would be hesitant to let you visit their premises.
• Visit the Companies Database provided by governmental bodies such as the one in UK: www.companieshouse.gov.uk and use their search index to determine whether the company is registered with them or not. Sole traders do not have to register and as result this would only serve as a secondary check but none the less will definitely help to clear any doubts.

Performing these checks will most definitely help to differentiate a scam company from legitimate wholesalers. After all any business venture involves a number of risks and seeking professional help is always a better option than making decisions based instincts and feelings. For the creator of scams, only one thing can be said: Fraud in the end secures for its companions only repentance and shame.

Here's What Online Consumers Are Complaining About Most

Con artists have gone high-tech, using the Internet to defraud consumers in a variety of clever ways. Whether they're using the excitement of an Internet auction to entice consumers into parting with their money, applying new technology to peddle traditional business opportunity scams, using email to reach vast numbers of people with false promises about earnings through day trading, or hijacking consumers' modems and cramming hefty long-distance charges onto their phone bills, scam artists are just a click away. 

Fortunately, law enforcement is on the cyber-case. Using complaints to Consumer Sentinel, a consumer fraud database, as their guide, law enforcement officials have identified the top 10 dot cons facing consumers who surf the Internet, as well as many of the fraudsters behind them. In addition to putting many online con artists out of business, the Federal Trade Commission, the nation's chief consumer protection agency, wants consumers to know how not to get caught in their web.

According to the FTC, here's what online consumers are complaining about most: 

Internet Auctions

The Bait: Shop in a "virtual marketplace" that offers a huge selection of products at great deals.

The Catch: After sending their money, consumers say they've received an item that is less valuable than promised, or, worse yet, nothing at all. 

The Safety Net When bidding through an Internet auction, particularly for a valuable item, check out the seller and insist on paying with a credit card or using an escrow service. 

Internet Access Services

The Bait: Free money, simply for cashing a check. 

The Catch: Consumers say they've been "trapped" into long-term contracts for Internet access or another web service, with big penalties for cancellation or early termination. 

The Safety Net If a check arrives at your home or business, read both sides carefully and look inside the envelope to find the conditions you're agreeing to if you cash the check. Read your phone bill carefully for unexpected or unauthorized charges. 

Credit Card Fraud 

The Bait: Surf the Internet and view adult images online for free, just for sharing your credit card number to prove you're over 18. 

The Catch: Consumers say that fraudulent promoters have used their credit card numbers to run up charges on their cards. 

The Safety Net Share credit card information only when buying from a company you trust. Dispute unauthorized charges on your credit card bill by complaining to the bank that issued the card. Federal law limits your liability to $50 in charges if your card is misused. 

International Modem Dialing 

The Bait: Get free access to adult material and pornography by downloading a "viewer" or "dialer" computer program. 

The Catch: Consumers complained about exorbitant long-distance charges on their phone bill. Through the program, their modem is disconnected, then reconnected to the Internet through an international long-distance number. 

The Safety Net Don't download any program to access a so-called "free" service without reading all the disclosures carefully for cost information. Just as important, read your phone bill carefully and challenge any charges you didn't authorize or don't understand. 

Web Cramming 

The Bait: Get a free custom-designed website for a 30-day trial period, with no obligation to continue. 

The Catch: Consumers say they've been charged on their telephone bills or received a separate invoice, even if they never accepted the offer or agreed to continue the service after the trial period. 

The Safety Net Review your telephone bills and challenge any charges you don't recognize. 

Multilevel Marketing Plans/ Pyramids

 

The Bait: Make money through the products and services you sell as well as those sold by the people you recruit into the program. 

The Catch: Consumers say that they've bought into plans and programs, but their customers are other distributors, not the general public. Some multi-level marketing programs are actually illegal pyramid schemes. When products or services are sold only to distributors like yourself, there's no way to make money. 

The Safety Net Avoid plans that require you to recruit distributors, buy expensive inventory or commit to a minimum sales volume. 

Travel and Vacation

 

The Bait: Get a luxurious trip with lots of "extras" at a bargain-basement price. 

The Catch: Consumers say some companies deliver lower-quality accommodations and services than they've advertised or no trip at all. Others have been hit with hidden charges or additional requirements after they've paid. 

The Safety Net Get references on any travel company you're planning to do business with. Then, get details of the trip in writing, including the cancellation policy, before signing on. 

Business Opportunities

The Bait: Be your own boss and earn big bucks. 

The Catch: Taken in by promises about potential earnings, many consumers have invested in a "biz op" that turned out to be a "biz flop." There was no evidence to back up the earnings claims. 

The Safety Net Talk to other people who started businesses through the same company, get all the promises in writing, and study the proposed contract carefully before signing. Get an attorney or an accountant to take a look at it, too. 

Investments

The Bait: Make an initial investment in a day trading system or service and you'll quickly realize huge returns. 

The Catch: Big profits always mean big risk. Consumers have lost money to programs that claim to be able to predict the market with 100 percent accuracy. 

The Safety Net Check out the promoter with state and federal securities and commodities regulators, and talk to other people who invested through the program to find out what level of risk you're assuming. 

Health Care Products/Services

The Bait: Items not sold through traditional suppliers are "proven" to cure serious and even fatal health problems. 

The Catch: Claims for "miracle" products and treatments convince consumers that their health problems can be cured. But people with serious illnesses who put their hopes in these offers might delay getting the health care they need. 

The Safety Net Consult a health care professional before buying any "cure-all" that claims to treat a wide range of ailments or offers quick cures and easy solutions to serious illnesses. 

Can you avoid getting caught by a scam artist working the web? Not always. But prudence pays. The FTC offers these tips to help you avoid getting caught by an offer that just may not click: 

Be wary of extravagant claims about performance or earnings potential. Get all promises in writing and review them carefully before making a payment or signing a contract. 

Read the fine print and all relevant links. Fraudulent promoters sometimes bury the disclosures they're not anxious to share by putting them in teeny-tiny type or in a place where you're unlikely see them. 

Look for a privacy policy. If you don't see one - or if you can't understand it - consider taking your business elsewhere. 

Be skeptical of any company that doesn't clearly state its name, street address and telephone number. Check it out with the local Better Business Bureau, consumer protection office or state Attorney General. 

Whether you're looking for a collectible or thinking about selling that treasure you discovered in the attic, an Internet auction may be just the thing for you. 

Since their first appearance in 1995, Internet auctions have become one of the hottest phenomena of the web. They offer buyers a "virtual flea market" with an endless range of merchandise from around the world — and they give sellers a "storefront" from which to market everything from sports memorabilia to computer systems to millions of international buyers. 

Whether you're a buyer or a seller, there's a smart way to "do" Internet auctions. Here's how to make sure you get the most from your auction action. 

How Auctions Work

Internet auctions are bazaars. In most cases, sellers offer one item at a time, but sometimes sellers offer multiple lots of the same item. The auction web sites often refer to auctions of multiple items as "Dutch" or "English" auctions. At some sites, the seller may be required to sell all items at the price of the lowest successful bid. At other sites, the seller is entitled to the prices bid by each of the highest bidders. 

Occasionally, Internet auction sellers set a "reserve price," which is the lowest price they will accept for an item. Some sites disclose the reserve price during the auction. 

The bidding for each auction closes at a scheduled time, when the highest bidder "wins." In the case of sales of multiple lots, the participants with the highest bids at the close of the auction are obligated to buy the items. If no one bids at or above the reserve price, the auction closes without a "winner." At the close of a successful auction, the buyer and seller communicate — usually by e-mail — to arrange for payment and delivery of the goods. 

Kinds of Auctions

Internet auctions can be business-to-person or person-to-person. 

Operators of business-to-person auction sites have physical control of the merchandise being offered and accept payment for the goods. In person-to-person auctions, individual sellers or small businesses offer their items for auction directly to consumers. Generally, the seller — not the site — has physical possession of the merchandise. After the auction closes, the seller is responsible for dealing directly with the highest bidder to arrange for payment and delivery. 

Payment Options

Buyers may have several payment options, including credit card, debit card, personal check, cashier's check, money order, cash on delivery and escrow services. However, all sellers do not accept all forms of payment. 

Credit cards offer buyers the most consumer protections, including the right to seek a credit from the credit card issuer if the product is not delivered or if the product received isn't the product ordered. Typically, sellers using business-to-person auction sites accept payment by credit card. But many sellers in person-to-person auctions don't. Usually they require payment by cashier's check or money order before they send the item to the winning bidder. 

Some sellers agree to use an escrow service. For a fee — generally 5 percent of the cost of the item, paid by the buyer — an escrow service accepts payment from the buyer via check, money order or credit card. The service releases the money to the seller only after the buyer receives and approves the merchandise. This helps protect buyers from ending up empty-handed after paying their money. The flip side? Using an escrow service can delay the deal. As with any business transaction, investigate the escrow service's reputation before signing on to the service. 

Occasionally, sellers agree to send items COD, with the buyer paying when the item is received. 

Consumer Concerns

According to the Federal Trade Commission, Internet auction fraud has become a significant problem. Most consumer complaints center on sellers who: 

• don't deliver the advertised goods; 
• deliver something far less valuable than they advertised; 
• don't deliver in a timely way; or 
• fail to disclose all the relevant information about the product or terms of the sale. 

What Can You Do if Your Identity is Stolen?

Filing a police report, checking your credit reports, notifying creditors, and disputing any unauthorized transactions are some of the steps you must take immediately to restore your good name. 

Should you file a police report if your identity is stolen?

A police report that provides specific details of the identity theft is considered an Identity Theft Report, which entitles you to certain legal rights when it is provided to the three major credit reporting agencies or to companies where the thief misused your information.  An Identity Theft Report can be used to permanently block fraudulent information that results from identity theft, such as accounts or addresses, from appearing on your credit report. It will also make sure these debts do not reappear on your credit reports. Identity Theft Reports can prevent a company from continuing to collect debts that result from identity theft, or selling them to others for collection. An Identity Theft Report is also needed to place an extended fraud alert on your credit report. 

You may not need an Identity Theft Report if the thief made charges on an existing account and you have been able to work with the company to resolve the dispute.  Where an identity thief has opened new accounts in your name, or where fraudulent charges have been reported to the consumer reporting agencies, you should obtain an Identity Theft Report so that you can take advantage of the protections you are entitled to.

In order for a police report to entitle you to the legal rights mentioned above, it must contain specific details about the identity theft.  You should file an ID Theft Complaint with the FTC and bring your printed ID Theft Complaint with you to the police station when you file your police report.  The printed ID Theft Complaint can be used to support your local police report to ensure that it includes the detail required.

A police report is also needed to get copies of the thief’s application, as well as transaction information from companies that dealt with the thief.  To get this information, you must submit a request in writing, accompanied by the police report, to the address specified by the company for this purpose. 

How long can the effects of identity theft last?

It's difficult to predict how long the effects of identity theft may linger. That's because it depends on many factors including the type of theft, whether the thief sold or passed your information on to other thieves, whether the thief is caught, and problems related to correcting your credit report. 

Victims of identity theft should monitor financial records for several months after they discover the crime. Victims should review their credit reports once every three months in the first year of the theft, and once a year thereafter. Stay alert for other signs of identity theft. 

Don't delay in correcting your records and contacting all companies that opened fraudulent accounts.  Make the initial contact by phone, even though you will normally need to follow up in writing.  The longer the inaccurate information goes uncorrected, the longer it will take to resolve the problem.

What can you do to help fight identity theft? 

A great deal.

Awareness is an effective weapon against many forms identity theft. Be aware of how information is stolen and what you can do to protect yours, monitor your personal information to uncover any problems quickly, and know what to do when you suspect your identity has been stolen.

Armed with the knowledge of how to protect yourself and take action, you can make identity thieves' jobs much more difficult. You can also help fight identity theft by educating your friends, family, and members of your community. The FTC has prepared a collection of easy-to-use materials to enable anyone regardless of existing knowledge about identity theft to inform others about this serious crime.