Stopping Online Identity Theft While Shopping Online

01/07/2009 

While shopping online, it is all too easy to fall victim to identity theft. Too easily we become lazy or lose the vigilance necessary to ensure that our information remains safe online at all times. Identity theft and credit card fraud are an increasingly problematic aspect of Internet commerce, so it is important to be aware of what you can do to prevent it from spreading.

Use Familiar Companies

Almost anyone can sign up for a website, add a credit card application and sell products to you in less than a few minutes. To combat the wave upon wave of individuals who intend to take your information for ill purposes, only buy online from companies you can trust. While it may not always be easy to tell if a company is legitimate, companies with a solid track record can be researched and proven before you use them. Contact the Better Business Bureau, search for complaints from other consumers and read their terms and conditions.

The Right Passwords

Always use different passwords when setting up your online accounts. It may be easier for you to just use one password and login for every account you open, but it ultimately makes everything that much easier to steal from you. If a hacker manages to steal one password, they will immediately have access to all of your information.

Email Scams

There are plenty of scams that people can and will attempt to use against you to take your credit card information. They may try to befriend you and ask for money or a plane ticket. They may pretend to be a legitimate business and steal your information (as in a phishing scam) or they may simply ask for it and if you are not paying attention, you may very well give it to them. Remember, these are trained experts who know how to make these things work. Be vigilant and you can avoid most Internet fraud scams.

Misdirected URLs

The phishing scam is one of the most prevalent and dangerous out there right now and its primary weapon is to use a false, misdirected URL that forces you to click on the wrong page and give away your information. Be wary of these scams and always manually enter a URL when you receive an email. All it takes is one login attempt for the identity thieves to steal your information and start using your account for their own ill deeds.

There are plenty of opportunities for a hacker to access and steal your personal information. Luckily, if you remain informed and stay ever vigilant, there are an equal number of ways you can combat their attempts. Always be ready to read about and respond to new methods used by hackers to take your personal information. Also, watch all of your emails, spam messages and other personal data for attempts by an enterprising scam artist to take you for a fool. If you know what to look for, their attempts will look downright pathetic.

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