17 Jan 2008
Internet Scammers Target Busy Women
Online shopping helps busy women cope with their demanding life. Women still remain the primary shopper for Xmas, birthdays and the day to day needs of her family. Internet scammers tempt women with low prices and special offers.
The first website dedicated to helping victims of online crime and other incidents was announced today www.e-victims.org. The E-Victims Organisation, CIC has launched a special shopping service. Shopping was chosen as the first topic for the new service because shoppers are a top target for fraudsters.
“Women often fall victim because they have time and money pressures. When they go online to shop it can be difficult to focus – the phone rings, the kids need help with homework, it is time to get dinner going. That is when you are vulnerable. When you are rushed and you miss the warning signs or don’t read all the details” explains Jennifer Perry, Communication Director.
It is easier than you think to have something go wrong. The criminals operating online are professional and organised. They plan ahead and invest money to create scams that look legitimate and believable. That is why they are so successful. Unfortunately, they do con a lot of people. Lord Erroll, who sat on the recent House of Lords enquiry into Personal Internet Security agrees, “Online scams today are getting more sophisticated and they will catch more people out. That is why we need the www.e-victims.org service to support Internet users.”
When you are an e-victim, it can be embarrassing. It can be difficult to know who to contact and people can be sent to one organisation after another - often without a satisfactory conclusion. That is why www.e-victims.org was created to offer one website to give clear advice to e-victims. Anyone can use the website anonymously and for free.
"The Internet is great, but when you do run into a problem you need specific advice. People need help with a wide range of Internet related problems including fraud, malware, returning goods, scams, bullying, sexual harassment, data theft and much more. We will be steadily adding advice in all these areas throughout 2008” says Perry.
The E-Victims Organisation is not a government or law enforcement agency. It is not a reporting site, but an independent service offering people advice and direction on what to do when something has gone wrong with online shopping; and when appropriate, which agency they should contact.