Identity Theft Protection & Prevention: Prevent ID Internet
Fraud
Online identity theft is a serious crime that can clean out your
life savings and leave you with a damaged credit history that
may take years to repair. In the interim, obtaining loans,
renting apartments, and even applying for work can become
increasingly difficult. Here is what you can do to protect
yourself:
Internet and computer safeguards:
Before you shop online, install and Update spyware and virus
protection utilities to prevent a worm, virus or spyware program
from sending out files or other stored information from your
computer. Install a firewall on your home computer to prevent
hackers from obtaining personal identifying and financial data
from your hard drive. Encrypt sensitive files.
Before discarding your computer, use a strong "wipe" utility to
remove all recoverable data.
Find Out About the Company
If you are unfamiliar with the company, research it before
buying from them. If you decide to purchase something from an
unknown retailer, start out with an inexpensive test order to
see if the company comes through.
Trustworthy companies advertise their real business address and
phone number, or customer service line. See if they are listed
on the Internet yellow pages.
Call the company directly to determine if their business is
genuine. Find out how the merchant handles returns.
Read their Privacy Policy
Reputable e-commerce sites should offer a Privacy Policy
explaining how your personal information may be shared with
third parties. To prevent unwanted e-mail ("spam"), junk mail,
or phone calls, read their privacy policies before submitting
your personal information.
Verify the Web Site Address
Cyber-criminals have been known to create counterfeit sites that
look like authentic, well-established companies. Check the
website address at the top of the screen, when you first visit
an online store and check if it is the same as the real
company's.
Shop on Secured Transaction Protected Sites
A secure site uses encryption technology to transfer information
from your computer to the online merchant's computer. There are
a couple of ways to discern whether a site is secure.
At the time of entering personal credit card information, look
at the address bar to see https://. The "s" after "http"
indicates secure. Often, you will not see the "s" until time of
check out.
Another way to know if a web site is secure is to look for a
closed padlock displayed at the bottom of your screen. If that
lock is open, you should assume it is not a secure site. Some
browsers indicate a secure site with an unbroken key.
Shop in the USA
By shopping in the U.S., you are protected by both federal and
state consumer laws. Consumer protection is often unavailable in
other countries.
Seal of Approval
For peace of mind, find out if the online store voluntarily
belongs to a seal-of-approval program that sets privacy-related
guidelines; such as, the Better Business Bureau Online (www.bbbonline.org) or
TRUSTe (www.truste.org).
Credit Cards VS. Debit Cards, Cash VS. Checks
Because of the federal Fair Credit Billing Act, credit cards are
the safest way to shop online. Under this law you have the right
to withhold payments on disputed charges. It is good practice to
use one credit card when purchasing online to more readily track
fraudulent charges.
Personal checks make you susceptible to bank fraud. Money orders
may prevent this but do not offer additional protection in the
event of problems with your order.
Use an actual credit card, not an ATM debit or check card. As
with checks, an ATM card may open your personal banking
information to criminals. Debit cards are not protected to the
same extent as credit cards. If you have to use a debit card,
consider using one with a limited balance that you use solely
for online purchases.
Keep Your Password Private
Reputable e-commerce sites may require the shopper to log-in by
creating a username and a password before placing or viewing an
order. Never reveal your password to anyone. When selecting a
password, do not use commonly known information, such as your
birth date, or driver's license number. Do not reuse the same
password for other sites. A good password has at least eight
characters and includes both letters and numbers.
Do NOT Give Out Your Social Security Number
There is no reason for any merchant to ask for your Social
Security number. It is not a requirement for purchasing online.
Disclose as Little Information as Possible
Merchants often try to obtain more information about you than
necessary. They may want to know your leisurely activities,
income or interests. This information may be used for marketing
purposes and can lead to "spam", junk mail and telemarketers.
Only answer questions you deem are required to process your
order. Often, required questions will be marked with an asterisk
(*).
Print a Hard Copy of Your Order
After placing an order, you should be directed to a confirmation
page that reviews your entire order along with customer service
information and a confirmation number. Keep it for your records
for at least the period covered by the return/warranty policy.
Often you will also receive a confirmation e-mail. Be sure to
keep it in your inbox along with any other correspondence until
you are satisfied with your purchase.
For more on Identity Theft, vist SpyFind'
s ID Theft Center, http://w
ww.spyfind.com/credit/identity_theft.html.