Online Identity Theft - Identity Theft:
Online Shopping
 Only shop at
merchants you are familiar with or contact the Better
Business Bureau. Look for secure shopping sites with
identifying marks such as https appearing in the browser
window or a lock icon appearing below the webpage on your
browser.
Never give PIN
numbers or passwords to the merchant. Verify your bank
statements immediately online or over the phone to check
the transaction was made for the proper amount and no
other charges were made. Be sure to have anti-virus and
anti-spyware programs running and always print out the
transaction record, log out and close the browser when
completed.
Read more about Online Privacy
in the following chapter.
Always Ask or
Opt-Out
Whenever you
are asked for personal information you have a right to
know why it is needed and how it will be used. Online you
may find that information in a Privacy Policy (read about
that in the chapter ‘How to Read a Privacy
Policy’).
Limit the use
of your personal information by requesting financial
institutions not to share your information with
affiliates. This is called ‘opting-out’ and the financial
institution must allow you to do so. Once you have
requested to opt-out, either on the phone or in writing,
they must never share your information unless you
specifically request they do so.
Sign Your Cards
Immediately
When you do receive a new credit or
debit card sign it immediately and never carry it
unsigned.
Don’t Save
Passwords
Don’t save
passwords to personal information (such as online banking)
in a program that ‘remembers’ your information. Remove
cookies from your computer and have your hard drive
professionally ‘wiped’ before disposing it.What is being
done to protect your privacy? Get free adware download and
protect your online privacy.
Use strong
passwords – that means a combination of letters and
numbers that can’t be easily guessed. Never use
information such as your mother’s maiden name or birth
date that can be figured out by thieves.
Protect Your
Computer
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