Reputable online auctions have the necessary safeguards in place to be considered secure.
While connoisseurs generally use live auctions for luxury and fine art items, they may choose online auctions for other purchases. Be aware that online auctions are the number-one source of crime on the Internet because they’re such perfect settings for deceit. The FBI gets hundreds of complaints each week from people who purchased expensive items like paintings, dinosaur fossils, and Cartier watches only to receive counterfeits or nothing at all. Sometimes con artists use established sites to run their scams and other times they set up their own auction sites. Every Christmas sees a predictable surge in auction fraud, usually around popular gift items in short supply. If you’re going to buy merchandise from an online auction, research the seller carefully.
Most importantly, only use auction sites that offer an escrow service, where you pay a fee and the money is held until your goods have been received.
While technology has created some security vulnerabilities, ultimately technology will
close these gaps.
Technology breeds crime because there are always individuals who use technology in negative, self-serving ways. It has always been this way, and it always will be. What I did 37 years ago is 2,000 times easier today, thanks entirely to technology. For example, a forger who wanted to create a check or realistic identification 37 years ago would have had to be a skilled printer with access to a four-color printing press, color separations, negatives, and typesetting equipment—a million dollar investment. Today, a laptop, printer, and scanner totaling about $6,000 will accomplish the same goal, with the added benefit of being portable.
Holograms cannot
be duplicated
or counterfeited.
With the equipment that is available today, criminals can easily set up shop to manufacture holograms. The fact is that holograms are sold in gift shops and greeting card stores in all types and styles. If you attach a hologram of a pigeon to a Visa card, it is unlikely that anyone would take the time to notice the difference.
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