| Every internet user should make themselves aware of | | | | 2. Type in Web Addresses manually into your |
| the dangers of the internet. We no longer have the | | | | Browser. |
| excuse of ignorance as a reason for being scammed | | | | Sites that require you to use your personal data --such |
| on the internet with so much information about scams | | | | as banks, social networking sites and others -- should |
| now produced daily. Individuals such as myself find it | | | | be typed in manually into the web address bar. This is |
| necessary to continue to provide the public -- be them | | | | a very safe way as opposed to clicking a link that |
| older internet users or new -- with ways to protect | | | | comes into your E-mail inbox. |
| themselves from the heartless scammers who try | | | | 3. Use secure Webservers for transactions with your |
| every day to commit identity theft, phishing, and all | | | | Credit Card, etc. |
| other types of internet fraud. | | | | Always look for "https" (which indicates a secure Web |
| Below are my top five (5) methods of ensuring | | | | server) rather than "http" when you share sensitive |
| scammers don't get you, learn how to spot a scam | | | | information. To ensure it is "https" check the beginning |
| and hold on to your money. | | | | of the web address in your address bar. |
| 1. Think, Look, Investigate every link you receive in your | | | | 4. Antivirus and Firewalls are Important. |
| E-mail before Clicking. | | | | If scammers/phishers can't get you to click on a link, |
| It's no secret that scammers thrive greatly on | | | | chances are they will try to send you a virus, it's very |
| spamming our emails with Phishing links; links which | | | | important to protect yourself. Buy an anti-virus |
| appear to be on behalf of a real company but are in | | | | program and firewall program and install, run daily |
| fact owned by the scammers. Let us be real; it is no | | | | scans and update it regularly. You have no excuse for |
| longer safe or worth the risk of clicking an email that | | | | not protecting yourself since some excellent ones are |
| comes to your inbox without first investigating it. If you | | | | absolutely free these days. |
| are not sure about the legitimacy of a link, what you | | | | 5. Update yourself |
| could do is copy (not click) the link and paste it into | | | | It's important to keep in the know since scammers |
| Google's search engine and run a quick search. This | | | | create different techniques every day to rob |
| way you are able to read the short text that comes | | | | individuals. Check anti-scam websites on a regular |
| up in Google about the link, look for words such as | | | | basis, visit such blogs and forums also. |
| scam, internet scams, fraud, phishing. Of course, the | | | | Finally, from my experience the best way to protect |
| number one thing to do is never click on a link that isn't | | | | yourself and/or a business from a scam is to remind |
| from a site you are familiar with. In closing, most | | | | yourself that there may be scams that are out there |
| "urgent" emails asking for financial personal information | | | | which you do not currently know about. Below is my |
| should be instantly suspicious as such real | | | | recommendation of a website which will "keep you in |
| organizations almost never request this unless in | | | | the know" about the latest fraud tactics and how to |
| person, so always make a call first. | | | | protect yourself and your identity. |