Project Business Ethics

1. Poor Privacy Practices:

Companies that do not let you opt out of getting junk E-mail or phone calls easily should be avoided. I was going to buy some products at the Quicken Web Site, and was annoyed that the common "Check here if you don't want us to give your E-mail address to receive online offers" checkbox was not available. Instead, you had to select a link and send them E-mail!! So, I sent Quicken the following letter:

I was going to purchase your products on your Web site, but your privacy procedure was so draconian that I will not be purchasing products at your Web site now or in the future.

Most online companies (at least the ones I purchase from) let you select a checkbox on a "purchaser information" page to restrict information (no telemarketing, no spam, etc.). The fact that you required separate E-mail, and then even coded the information page so you couldn't even cut and paste the restrictions was extraordinarily user hostile.

(If I had any other choice other than Microsoft Money, I'd be tempted to not upgrade Quicken and Turbo Tax at all!)

2. Online shopping:

With in our daily life we see that more and more people is turning to the Internet in order to complete their.
Shopping from the comfort of their own home. You may be one of them. While online shopping does offer a world of conveniences, it also - especially now - offers a cesspool filled with those who want to take your money and run.
Can you confidentially shop online? Of course… provided
you learn to protect yourself!

There are several things that can act as signposts for both legitimate and unscrupulous businesses. Keeping this in mind, and taking just a few extra steps, can
make all the difference in dealing with a reputable
business or the Grinch That Stole Christmas.

It would truly surprise me if one, and only one, Web site
had exclusive sales for a product or service. In the majority
of cases, you can find the exact same product from dozens
of different sites. Keep this in mind when someone tries
to "railroad" you into buying from them right that minute
or missing out forever. It simply isn't true most of the time.

3. Password & Credit Card Fishing Scams:
   These scam e-mails appear to originate from your Internet Service Provider or web company that you might have an account with (such as eBay or PayPal) and states that your account needs to be updated, or that your credit card is invalid or has expired. These "phishing" scams have targeted AOL users, as well as Earthlink and Juno. These scams usually provide a link to a counterfeit web site where they will have you provide your credit card information. There are several variations of this scam which include phony contests, sweepstakes or "installs" notifications which will request your screen name and password. In addition, these types of scam attacks have targeted other on-line businesses such as PayPal, infact, PayPal users have been hit several times in recent months with versions of this scam. Here is a News story from ABCNews: Scammers Target PayPal, Story Highlights: "Users of the online payment service PayPal have been hit with two scams to steal passwords, and ultimately cash..." "PayPal has taken steps to fight the scams, but critics say the company should have warned its users more thoroughly to never release password information..
   
   

4.    Nigerian e-mail Scam:
Help me smuggle my money out of my oppressive country! This is an oldie, and a real baddie. The basic line goes like this: "I represent some high mucky muck who wants to get a lot of suspicious money out of my country, and we need help from you to do it. We'll pay you stupid amounts of cash to be a front person." The system escalates until you've got money sunk into the scam, and they want you to visit the country in question in person. There have been people who played along with this and never made it home alive. Originally this was focused through Nigeria, but with recent events, you may hear about Taliban leaders wanting help, or people from other war-torn countries. Don't respond to these people in any way. People die falling for this one. For more info on this scam here is a recent news story which also includes links to even more information: How a Bank Got E-Mail Scammed, Story Highlights: "Ann Marie Poet's new business partner called himself Dr. Mbuso Nelson, and said he was an official with the Ministry of Mining in South Africa..." "Nelson popped into Poet's life out of nowhere one day, offering to pay $4.5 million to the 59-year-old secretary for her assistants. Don't respond to these people in any way. People die falling for this one.. In many cases, you'll be told to leave your name and telephone number so that a salesperson can call you back with the sales pitch. Many of these are illegal pyramid schemes masquerading as legitimate opportunities to earn money. To report any type of suspected e-mail fraud forward the entire e-mail to: FTC at uce@ftc.gov <mailto:uce@ftc.gov>, and/or Internet Fraud Watch E-Mail (NFIC) at: nfic@internetmci.com <mailto:nfic@internetmci.com> or Investment Fraud & Stock Offers - Securities and Exchange Commission at:enforcement@sec.gov <mailto:enforcement@sec.gov>. Keep copies of these e-mail addresses in your on-line address book!