| Identity theft is a growing problem that has reached | | | | - Never disclose passwords or your identification |
| worldwide, astronomical proportions. Internet identity | | | | information unless you are positive of with whom you |
| theft is on the rise and can have a huge, detrimental | | | | are dealing. Legitimate Internet Service Providers will |
| affect on your life by destroying your credit score and | | | | never solicit this information from you via e-mail, so you |
| even leaving you open to criminal charges for crimes | | | | should promptly report any correspondence of this |
| that are committed in your name. | | | | nature to the original site owner and then delete the |
| When someone else assumes your identity for illegal | | | | mail. Never, click on a URL contained in this type of |
| or otherwise unsavoury purposes, this is known as | | | | e-mail, as this is just a scam artist's way of accessing |
| identity fraud and is growing at a frighteningly rapid rate | | | | your private information -- commonly referred to as |
| throughout the United States and the rest of the world. | | | | pshishing. |
| These unscrupulous characters make a living by | | | | - Maintain records of all Internet transactions and |
| stealing your identity and impersonating you to commit | | | | routinely check your credit card statements for |
| crimes such as bank fraud, credit card fraud, mail fraud | | | | accuracy. |
| and more. Criminals abound in this lucrative field and | | | | - Most legitimate online merchants will provide |
| they are quite skilled at rapidly conducting a myriad of | | | | confirmation e-mail once you place your order. Be |
| illegal operations once they assume another person's | | | | wary of those that do not offer this service. |
| identity. Not just a local crime, instances of Internet | | | | Technological advances provide more and more |
| identity theft have been linked to organized crime and | | | | protection to Internet shoppers; however, as quickly as |
| drug trafficking as well as pornography, money | | | | the innovations are put into place, there are criminal |
| laundering and alien smuggling. | | | | elements that are diligently working to thwart these |
| The Internet, while providing an efficient and easy to | | | | efforts. |
| use marketplace for users, is also a domain that is | | | | When dealing with merchants on the Internet, you must |
| fraught with identity theft opportunity. However, | | | | practice common sense and be security conscious. |
| recognizing and protecting yourself from identity fraud | | | | Should you fall victim to Internet identity theft, you must |
| is possible. If you use due diligence when conducting | | | | take action to protect your self immediately. |
| business over the Internet, you will be able to give your | | | | As soon as you suspect your identity has been |
| identity a blanket of protection, thus saving a great deal | | | | compromised through Internet identity theft, contact the |
| of heartache and headaches later. | | | | service provider. Next, get in touch with your credit |
| In order to ensure safety in your Internet transactions, | | | | card issuer and immediately close your account. Your |
| you should adhere to the following: | | | | credit card company will be only too happy to issue |
| - Always use the same "stored-value" card for all | | | | you new cards with a different account number. |
| Internet transactions. Stored value cards are ones that | | | | Ensure that your old account contain the notation |
| are issued by your financial Institution with specified | | | | "closed at consumer's request" so that there will be no |
| dollar limits. | | | | harmful consequences to your credit score. Follow up |
| - Establish an account with an Online Payment Service | | | | all verbal communication with your credit card |
| whose primary service is geared to protecting their | | | | company in writing so you have a hard copy record of |
| clients' financial transactions over the Internet. | | | | the transaction. |
| - Use a browser that has built in encryption capabilities, | | | | Next, call all of the three credit reporting agencies to |
| which will scramble any sensitive information | | | | report the fraudulent activity. Request that they review |
| transmitted via the Web. If the URL address begins | | | | your records to make sure no additional credit cards |
| with "https" and you see a small "lock" icon in the | | | | have been opened in your name without your |
| status window, chances are your browser is equipped | | | | authorization. Ask that all your accounts be flagged |
| with the latest technology to protect your personal or | | | | with "fraud alert", so that no accounts can be opened |
| financial information. | | | | in your name in future without your express permission. |
| - Strive to conduct business with sites that have been | | | | Provide the reporting agency with all your contact |
| authenticated with digital certificates. Click on the | | | | information, including phone number, so that you can be |
| authentication logo to ensure you are on a legitimate, | | | | readily reached should your account show any |
| protected site before you provide any sensitive | | | | ongoing, problematic activity. |
| information. | | | | All this may sound a bit like "over-kill", however Internet |
| - Read the "privacy policy" of the web page you have | | | | identity theft is a thriving underworld activity and your |
| accessed to ensure that your personal and financially | | | | life will change dramatically for the worse if you fall |
| sensitive information will not ever be released to third | | | | victim to it's evil hold. Therefore, protecting yourself |
| parties. Sites that have been verified as safe will | | | | ahead of time in order to avoid Internet identity theft is |
| usually prominently post the logo of the company they | | | | a smart, sensible move. As the old adage goes: there's |
| have hired to ensure that they have adhered to | | | | no sense locking the barn door after the horse gets |
| industry standards for consumer protection. | | | | out. |