risks involved in e-commerce?

Question

I am a software specialist in a computing company and my employers have asked me to produce a report which will assure them that the risks involved in trading on the internet are no more or no less than trading in the conventional sense. Can anybody help?

Answer 1

The Risks depend TOTALLY on how you implement your e-commerce systems...

Essentially 'Risk Free'
Your site is password protected using User Names, Passwords and RSA Keys. Only pre-approved Customers are issued RSA Keys. Customer agreements make them liable for all use of a lost RSA key untill you are notified. All pre-approved Customers must register using their 'normal' PC, Credit or Debit cards, an email address and a telephone number. Orders can only be placed from the regsitered PC's and an Invoice is sent to the Customers pre-registered email address together with a unique order number. Customers must confirm orders by phoning back the order number before goods are dispatched (the order processing system uses Caller ID to validate a Customer identity). Cards are charged before goods are despatched. Goods are only delivered to registered Card Addresses. Limits are placed on the value and number of orders outstanding for each Customer.

'Open season'
Anyone can place as many orders as they wish to any total value from any PC anywhere in the world (including Internet cafes). Customers can use any Credit/Debit Card they like. Goods are sent to whatever address the customer requests.

Answer 2

With e-commerce you don't know if you're dealing with a white collar professional, or an imprisoned con man.

Imagine how the FBI and other law enforcement are able to catch child predators, who online claim to be one thing, when in actuality, they have sinister motives.