Howto Avoid Online scams - Business Series #1

Howto Avoid Online scams, Internet scams and email scams

This is my first Business Series article. I’m going to try and concentrate on issues that affect the professional photographer, rather than general business advice. There is a lot of good general advice out there, and I have never been afraid to ask for it when I need it. Business Link and your banks business advisor are a great place to start.

Introduction

One of the downsides of being a professional photographer is that you go from being a photographer to being in the business of photography, that is you are now a business like any other and subject to the same highs and lows - emotional, financial and ethical. You put yourself out in the world for all to see, and in some cases, for the more unscrupulous members of society, you become a target. The trick is to not become a victim.

Having received some dubious email orders recently that I recognised as scams, I thought it might be useful to provide a summary of the information I read and the advice I was given on avoiding scams. I hope it will help you out. If you have any more information to include, please let me know.

The best advice is that at all times your common sense should apply to any sale or deal, online or otherwise.

Signs of a scam

• The customer uses a free web based e-mail address.
• The customer writes in poor English and may not make him/herself completely clear.
• The customer does not ask to see work before purchase and the order may be for a large number of art works or high value items.
• The customer wishes to send a cheque for the full payment as soon as possible.
• The customers cheque may be for a larger amount than you invoiced for and they will ask you to refund the difference.
• The customer may be reluctant to give you a physical address.
• The customer requirements may be unusual or different from your normal customers.
• The customer will ask to arrange packing and shipping themselves.
• The initial contact email may begin with ‘hi’ and not have your name included.

Types of scam

There are too many to list here, but two common ones are:

• Nigerian scam - there are a few variations on this, but basically you will be sent a cheque or money transfer for more than the invoiced amount and asked to refund the difference, often to another source from the original sender.
• Phishing - an email that looks like an official request for information, for example, say from your bank asking you to reapply for online services etc. The purpose is to gather your bank details and other personal information. Most banks allow you to report these abuses on their website. DO NOT respond to any such email requests that ask for your personal/business/bank details.

Cheques

• Have a look at safefromscams.co.uk/chequescams.html.
• Do not accept any cheques from people you do not know and trust. High value cheques from abroad are especially dubious.
• Even if funds clear into your account, the issuing bank can claim any fraudulently issued funds back from you at a later date if you accepted the cheque. If the issuing bank was American, they can claim funds back up to 6 years later!
• Keep your cheque book safe and report it’s loss to your bank ASAP. If any of your cheques are used fraudulently, providing you reported the loss to your bank quickly, then they will normally refund you.

Spam

Uninvited bulk sent email. Often for sex or performance enhancing drugs, but can also be from other normal businesses. Ignore and delete them. Often if you respond asking to be unsubscribed you are simply validating this email address as valid. Many internet service providers scan and remove spam, but if not your email program may have a junk (or spam) mail filter.

Safer ways to receive payment

As a business the buck often stops with you and banks/credit card companies will try to reclaim any losses from you!

• Internet and telephone banking normally allows safe transfers.
• Ask the customer to use their credit card on your website if you have e-commerce. Not totally safe either, but better than a cheque as you have a little more protection.
• CHAPS payments can be arranged by your bank. There is a small charge for these, but they are secure and payment is same day.
• Speak to your bank and see what they recommend or will protect you against.

What to do if caught out?

• Notify your bank ASAP.
• Notify the police ASAP. (As of April 2007, your bank should deal with this due to a change in the way crime is reported, but not all banks are up to speed on this yet.)

Other sources of information

• Canal Museum - general advice, whilst not relating to art, the advice is useful.
• safefromscams.co.uk - a lot of info on scams.
• Google - Google the persons name and email address.
• AxisWeb - Use/search artist’s blogs for mention of scams.
• Experian - Consider using a credit check service like Experian. It is expensive at £6/month, but if you do a lot of online shopping or e-commerce, a service like this will notify you immediately of any changes in your credit rating that relate to identity theft or misuse of your details.

Legal disclaimer

This document is not a definitive text and no liability is accepted for the included information by the author.

Prepared July 2007.

Comments (2)