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