According to the China Electronic Commerce Association, there are three types of fraud that have been used to con Internet users, which netizens should keep in mind.

Phishing websites - which create an almost identical or cloned Web page of a trustworthy site, such as Taobao, a major online shopping platform, and Sina Weibo, the most popular micro-blogging website - usually steal the private information of Internet users, such as bank account numbers and passwords.

It lures netizens by releasing false information about big sales, or winning a lottery or prizes.

It is difficult for netizens to identify whether a website is legitimate.

Another kind of fraudulent website swindles netizens' money after obtaining their trust through off-line contacts.

The third kind of fraud involves some online shop owners violating their commitments. For example, sellers fail to deliver goods after receiving orders or refuse to change their problematic products.

(China Daily 08/15/2012 page3)