Got Ripped Off on the Web? Fight Back!

By Stephen Bucaro

I find that most people and businesses on the web are friendly and honest. Unfortunately, a few decide to take the dishonest route. Did you pay for a product or service and didn't receive it, or it didn't turn out to be what you expected? Did you provide a product or service and didn't get paid?

In this article, I'm going to provide you a step-by-step method to force dishonest individuals or businesses on the Web to deal with you fairly, or at least how to cause them so much pain that they wish they had. How many of these steps you actually take depends upon how mad you are and how much time you want to dedicate to extracting revenge.

Step 1. Gather as much information about the dishonest party as you can. Get names, addresses and phone numbers. Dishonest parties like to make themselves scarce.

Step 2. Put your complaint in writing. Be accurate and honest. Don't exaggerate or make false accusations. Also, think of any possible excuses the dishonest party might use, and prepare counter arguments.

Step 3. Inform the dishonest party that you intend to take action against them if they do not solve the problem equitably and honestly, and that that action will include charges of criminal fraud. Give them a chance to figure out that it would be much easier for them to just be honest. Contact them several times and give them ample time to resolve the problem, because after this things really get nasty.

Step 4. Go to the Internet Fraud Complaint Center (IFCC) website and click on the "File a Complaint" link to fill out an online form. The Internet Fraud Complaint Center (IFCC) is a partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C). IFCC provides a convenient and easy-to-use reporting mechanism that alerts authorities of a suspected criminal or civil violation.

Step 5. Go to the Internet Fraud Watch website and click on the "Online complaint form" link. The Internet Fraud Watch was created by the National Consumers League, the oldest nonprofit consumer organization in the United States.

Step 6. Go to the Better Business Bureau OnLine website. BBBOnLine is the arm of the Better Business Bureau that specifically deals with web sites. The BBB contacts the business involved in the dispute to see if they want to work it out amicably. When a company has a large file of complaints at the BBB, it definitely cuts into their business.

Step 7. Use a search engine to find out how to contact the Attorney General's Office of the state in which the dishonest party operates. Then file a complaint. If your complaint involves fraud, this could result in criminal charges against them.

Step 8. Go to the Allwhois website and look up the dishonest party's domain name. This might give you some information about the dishonest party and who is providing them with web hosting. Inform the company providing them with web hosting that if they continue to provide the dishonest party with web service, their company may be charged as an accomplice in a criminal action.