Online identity theft is a serious crime that can wipe out your life savings
and leave you with a damaged credit history that can take years to repair.
In the meantime, get loans, rent apartments, and even apply for
because the work can become more and more difficult. This is what you can do to
Protect yourself:

Internet and computer security:

Before you shop online, install and update antivirus and antispyware protection
utilities to avoid sending worms, viruses or spyware
files or other information stored on your computer. install a firewall
on your home computer to prevent hackers from obtaining personally identifiable information
and financial data from your hard drive. Encrypt confidential files.

Before you dispose of your computer, use a powerful “wipe” utility to remove
all recoverable data.

Discover the company

If you are not familiar with the company, research it before you buy.
to them. If you decide to buy something from an unknown retailer, start
with an inexpensive trial order to see if the company is compliant.

Trustworthy companies advertise their real business address and phone number
customer service number or hotline. See if they are listed on the Internet
Yellow Pages.

Call the company directly to determine if their business is genuine.
Find out how the merchant handles returns.

Read their Privacy Policy

Reputable e-commerce sites should offer a Privacy Policy that explains
how your personal information may be shared with third parties. To prevent
junk email (“spam”), junk mail or phone calls, read your privacy
policies before submitting your personal information.

Verify website address

Cyber ​​criminals have been known to create fake sites that look like
as authentic and established companies. Check the website address at
the top of the screen, when you first visit an online store and check if
It is the same as the real company.

Shop on protected secure transaction sites

A secure site uses encryption technology to transfer information from
your computer to the online merchant’s computer. There are a couple of
ways to discern if a site is secure.

When entering personal credit card information, look at
the address bar to see https://. The “s” after “http” indicates secure.
Often, you won’t see the “s” until checkout.

Another way to tell if a website is safe is to look for a closed site.
padlock displayed at the bottom of the screen. If that lock is open, you
You must assume that it is not a secure site. Some browsers indicate insurance
site with an intact key.

Buy in the US

When you buy in the US, you are protected by federal and state laws.
consumer laws. Consumer protection is often not available in other countries.

Seal of approval

For your peace of mind, find out if the online store is voluntarily owned
to a seal of approval program that establishes guidelines related to privacy; similar
such as, Better Business Bureau Online (www.bbbonline.org)
or TRUSTe (www.truste.org).

Credit cards vs. Debit Cards, Cash VS. checks

Due to the federal Fair Credit Billing Act, credit cards are the
safest way to shop online. Under this law, you have the right to withhold
payments of disputed charges. It is a good practice to use a credit card
when shopping online to more easily track fraudulent charges.

Personal checks make you susceptible to bank fraud. Money orders can
prevent this but offer no additional protection in case of problems
with your order

Use a real credit card, not a debit card or ATM check. As with checks,
an ATM card can open your personal banking information to criminals. Debit
cards are not protected to the same extent as credit cards. if you have
To use a debit card, consider using one with a limited balance that
use only for online purchases.

Keep your password private

Reputable e-commerce sites may require the buyer to log in by creating
a username and password before placing or viewing an order. never reveal
your password to anyone. When selecting a password, do not commonly use it
known information, such as your date of birth or driver’s license number.
Do not reuse the same password for other sites. A good password has in
least eight characters and includes both letters and numbers.

DO NOT provide your social security number

There is no reason for any merchant to ask for your Social Security
number. It is not a requirement to buy online.

Disclose as little information as possible

Merchants often try to get more information about you than is necessary.
They may want to know your leisure activities, income or interests. This
the information may be used for marketing purposes and may lead to “spam”,
spam and telemarketers.

Only answer the questions you feel are necessary to process your order. Often,
required questions will be marked with an asterisk

.

Print a hard copy of your order
After placing an order, you should be directed to a confirmation page.
who reviews your entire order along with customer service information
and a confirmation number. Keep it for your records for at least the period

covered by the return/warranty policy.
Often you will also receive a confirmation email. Make sure you keep it
in your inbox along with any other correspondence until you are satisfied

with your purchase
For more information on identity theft, visit SpyFind’s Identity Theft Center,

http://www.spyfind.com/credit/identity_theft.html.