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Official News Release from craigslist.co.uk
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Release Date: Thursday, 4th December 2008
"10 COMMANDMENTS" OF WEB SAFETY ISSUED BY CRAIGSLIST
'Tis The Season To Be Cautious, Advises New "Super-Highway Code"
Five Commandments For Fraud Avoidance Join Five For Personal Safety
A list of "Ten Commandments" of Web safety is issued today by Craigslist (www.craigslist.co.uk), the world's leading classifieds ads website. It includes five commandments for avoiding online scams and fraud and a further five for staying safe when meeting someone in person after finding them online.
The Ten Commandments together add up to a "Super-Highway Code" of safe Web behaviour - for use at this time of year for those buying Christmas gifts via online classified ads or auction sites, or by almost anyone using the web at any time to buy online or meet someone new.
The first of Craigslist's five commandments for avoiding online scams is: Always deal locally with people that you can meet in person. "Follow this one simple rule and you'll avoid 99% of the scam attempts on Craigslist and similar sites", says Jim Buckmaster, CEO of Craigslist.
But then if you ARE going to proceed to the stage of meeting someone in person you need to obey the code's five further commandments for staying safe when you do.
The full list of ten commandments is based on the accumulated experience of Craigslist - used each month by over 50 million people worldwide, between them posting over 30 million ads and making over 12 billion page-views on over 550 local sites.
The list draws on advice first compiled exclusively for Craigslist's own users but now broadened for the benefit of users of online classified ads in general, as well as auction sites and, in some key respects, Web dating sites.
They fall under two headings:
1. Five Commandments For Avoiding Online Scams And Fraud
2. Five Commandments For Personal Safety
The Five Commandments For Avoiding Online Scams And Fraud
1. Deal Locally With Folks That You Can Meet In Person
Follow this one simple rule and you will avoid 99% of the scam attempts on Craigslist and similar sites.
2. Never Wire Funds Via Western Union Or Any Other Wire Service
Anyone who asks you to do so is a scammer.
3. Never Give Out Personal Financial Information
Never give out your bank account number, National Insurance number or details of your eBay or Paypal account.
4. Beware Of Forged Bankers Drafts And Money Orders
Banks will cash them and then hold you responsible when the fake is discovered weeks later. So, don't release goods until your bank has confirmed that you can withdraw funds safely on the draft or money order.
5. Beware Of Fraudulent Escrow Services
- And Know That Only A Scammer Will "Guarantee" Your Transaction.
A legitimate escrow service is one that retains money during a purchase until the goods are safely in the hands of the buyer. However, there are now many fake escrow services operating on the Web, set up to defraud buyers.
The Five Commandments For Personal Safety
"The overwhelming majority of Craigslist users are trustworthy and well-intentioned", says Jim Buckmaster, CEO of Craigslist. "With billions of human interactions facilitated through Craigslist, the incidence of violent crime has been extremely low."
Nevertheless, says Buckmaster, it's very important to take the same common sense precautions online as you would offline:
So, when meeting someone for the first time, please remember to:
1. Insist On A Public Meeting Place, Like A Café
2. Consider Having A Friend Accompany You
3. Tell A Friend Or Family Member Where You're Going
4. Take Your Mobile Phone Along
5. Trust Your Instincts
Taking these simple precautions helps make life safer for everyone.
THE 10 COMMANDMENTS OF WEB SAFETY IN FULL
The Five Commandments For Avoiding Online Frauds And Scams:
1. Deal Locally With People That You Can Meet In Person
2. Never Wire Funds Via Any Wire Service
3. Never Give Out Personal Financial Information
4. Beware Of Fake Bank Drafts And Money Orders
5. Avoid Deals Involving Shipping Or Escrow Services
And The Five Commandments Of Personal Safety:
6. Insist On A Public Meeting Place, Like A Café
7. Consider Having A Friend Accompany You
8. Tell A Friend Or Family Member Where You're Going
9. Take Your Mobile Phone Along
10. Trust Your Instincts
ENDS
FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
info@think-inc.co.uk
NOTES FOR EDITORS:
For more information about personal safety online check out these resources:
- http://getsafeonline.org
- http://wiredsafety.org
- http://www.suzylamplugh.org (about personal safety of all kinds)
ABOUT CRAIGSLIST: Craigslist.org is an online noticeboard and free classified ads site, with local sites in over 550 locations in over 50 countries worldwide, including London (www.craigslist.co.uk) and 26 other UK cities or counties. They are community-moderated and largely free.
This news release is issued electronically and will not be duplicated with a posted copy.
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Press Release distributed by Newsfeed UK
Web: www.newsfeeduk.com
Email: info@newsfeeduk.com
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