| CPP, the online identity protection company have | | | | familiarise themselves with safe internet use and |
| warned parents that they might be at risk of identity | | | | ensure that their children are not revealing their |
| fraud due to their children secretly using their credit | | | | personal details to anyone unnecessarily online. |
| cards for online purchases, subscriptions and games. | | | | While it is clear that it is not possible to watch children |
| Regulated by the Financial Services Authority, CPP | | | | 24/7, it is possible to keep a close eye on your credit |
| carried out an extensive survey which shockingly | | | | card and only allow it to be used on reputable sites. |
| revealed that around 23 per cent of children have | | | | That is not to say that online purchasing should be |
| secretly used their parents credit card online. | | | | ruled out, as it is often cheaper, more convenient and |
| In addition, they found that a massive 77 per cent of | | | | offers more choice than the high street, it is simply |
| children in the UK use the internet completely | | | | wise to do your research before making or allowing |
| unsupervised. | | | | others to make an a online purchase. |
| This can put the parent at huge risk, as younger | | | | Experts advise that if a website is secure and it is |
| people are often not aware or are at least less aware | | | | safe to enter your credit card details, the web address |
| of the risks of identity fraud. | | | | should start with https:// instead of The 'S' indicates |
| According to the research, children are much more | | | | that the site is secure and your details will be safe. |
| likely to post credit card details recklessly and take | | | | Citi Group has this advice for safe online credit card |
| much less persuasion to part with vital personal | | | | use: |
| information. | | | | 1. Check for your browser's symbol, such as a padlock |
| If they are using their parents credit cards this can | | | | or key, indicating you're on a secure site |
| mean that the sensitive personal ID authentication | | | | 2. Look for privacy statements on each merchant |
| details of their parents are left vulnerable to phishing | | | | website to learn what information is being collected |
| and identity fraud attacks. | | | | and how it will be used |
| CPP and the Financial Services Authority urge parents | | | | 3. Review Citigroup's Information on Privacy as an |
| to keep a close eye on their child's internet use and | | | | excellent example |
| when they give permission for their children to use their | | | | 4. Get referrals from your friends on their favorite |
| credit card online to ensure that It is being used on a | | | | shopping websites |
| trustworthy site. | | | | 5. Check with your state/local consumer agencies or |
| Michael Lynch, CPP fraud expert commented: "They | | | | the Better Business Bureau before buying if you don't |
| are putting up credit card details and home address | | | | know the merchant |
| details on the internet which can be used by | | | | 6. Look for customer feedback on the merchant's |
| fraudsters, whether it's through phishing attacks to | | | | website |
| either sell the data or commit fraud using their credit | | | | 7. Use secure sites that encrypt, or scramble, all |
| card details." | | | | information until the receiver unscrambles it. |
| In order to combat growing online fraud, parents must | | | | |