Research

Know who you are doing business with

We all do it — when we first meet someone, we instinctively size them up, profiling them to decide if they are someone we want to know, talk to, or trust.

A similar approach should be applied when visiting websites, connecting with someone who can facilitate a project, or provide funding when other avenues have been unsuccessful.

Knowing how to distinguish a credible person or company from a spurious one can save you thousands of dollars and protect your reputation. Many scams that once relied on phone or mail now appear on the Internet, so it’s essential to be cautious in cyberspace.

Why research matters

In recent years, the IC3 (formerly the Internet Fraud Complaint Center, a partnership between the FBI and the National White Collar Crime Center) has received an average of nearly 300,000 Internet fraud complaints per year, and over 3.5 million complaints since its inception. Even the savviest consumer can fall victim to online schemes designed to bilk people of money.

Thankfully, there are many ways to protect yourself, your money, and your reputation.

Choose the depth of research you need

Tweraser Group offers three standard research options (plus an “Other” option for special quotes):

• Silver: Basic company information (name, address, telephone/fax, email, websites) and positive or negative reports about the company or individual
• Gold: Everything in Silver, plus available financial reports, business, and project history
• Platinum: Everything in Gold, plus reports from courts, government agencies, and other official sources