Beware of Online Shysters

By Paul Korzeniowski
E-Commerce Times

The illegal downloading and selling of items, such as music and videos, has been widely reported and continues to be a hot potato. "Some counterfeiters are so bold that they advertise movies that have not yet been released," said Andrew Horton, product management director at MarkMonitor.

The Internet has emerged as a great place to shop for someone looking for a good deal. Price comparison sites ensure that consumers pay as little as possible, so they often end up with tremendous bargains.

However, the adage "If a deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is" applies to some of these transactions. Shysters have established bogus Web sites advertising Email Marketing Software - Free Demo name brands for a fraction of their typical costs. These businesses are booming: Online protection company MarkMonitor expects online sales of knockoff goods in 2007 to reach US$119 billion, up from $84 billion last year.

complete article