| Have you ever tried shopping online? Why not? Many | | | | What You Should Do |
| people find that online shopping is not only easy and | | | | The Federal Trade Commission warns all consumers |
| convenient, but much cheaper as well. Internet | | | | against such tricks. Remember that trusted merchants |
| merchants can afford to sell their products for lower | | | | and government agencies will not solicit personal |
| prices because of a lower capital needed for | | | | information from consumers through an electronic |
| maintaining an online store. But don't forget about the | | | | message. |
| risk of credit card fraud and identity theft when | | | | The best thing to do if you receive a suspicious email |
| purchasing from the web. | | | | is to call the company who appeared to have sent it |
| You may not even be aware of it but other people | | | | to confirm. Never attempt to open an email or click on |
| may already be using your personal information to | | | | the links in it. |
| commit fraudulent crimes against you. For instance, | | | | Bear in mind that the URL of a secured website |
| one common strategy used by identity thieves is called | | | | always begins with You should also look for the pad |
| "phishing". In fact, this strategy has been used by ID | | | | locked icon in the bottom right corner of your browser. |
| thieves since the 1990s and has become more and | | | | If you have been a victim of Identity Theft or credit |
| more prevalent today. | | | | card fraud, contact the FTC immediately. |
| How is the crime of phishing done? An identity thief will | | | | Be Alert Against Online Identity Theft |
| send an email to an unsuspecting victim, disguising as | | | | When making an online purchase, check the |
| an email from a reputable company or online merchant | | | | background and reputation of the internet merchant |
| like the IRS, Amazon, PayPal and other big names on | | | | you intend to purchase from. Don't just compare shops |
| the web. If you're not aware of identity theft tricks, you | | | | based on the low prices they offer. If a certain online |
| may think that the email is indeed from a valid source. | | | | shop sells items at an incredibly low price, if it doesn't |
| You may be asked to click on a link that leads to a | | | | have a solid track record of service to show, you |
| phishing website. This webpage was made to look just | | | | could be in danger. |
| like the genuine company and it takes careful | | | | You may also prefer to send in your payment through |
| examination to recognize a fake one from the real | | | | a reputable online system like Pay Pal. This way, you |
| one. The email may ask you to fill out the online form | | | | don't have to reveal your credit card's number to |
| for them to verify your account. But upon submitting | | | | anyone. See to it that the online shop uses a secured |
| that online form, you may not know that you're also | | | | server. There must be a Privacy Policy provided on |
| handing out your personal information to identity | | | | the site to show that they are concerned about |
| thieves. | | | | protecting their customer's personal information. |