Cyber shoppers, take precautions against ID theft | The Honolulu Advertiser

Comment, blog & share photos

Cyber shoppers, take precautions against ID theft | The Honolulu Advertiser | Hawaii's Newspaper

Posted on: Monday, December 8, 2008

Cyber shoppers, take precautions against ID theft

LEARN MORE

For more information on identity theft, how to protect yourself and what to do if you think your identity has been stolen, visit the Federal Trade Commission's Web site at:

www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft

A weak economy compounded by an even deeper quest for bargain-basement deals sparked a huge spike in "phishing" scams and other Internet ploys aimed at capturing consumers' identities — and ultimately their hard-earned cash.

Indeed, the quest for cheap deals brought online shoppers out in full force: On Cyber Monday — the Monday following the Thanksgiving weekend shopping blitz and the busiest online shopping day of the year — sales were up 15 percent from last year, hitting $846 million.

But while online sales (and consumer bargains) have increased, the number of online scams has reached new heights. Computer security experts reported Internet scams increased by a staggering 300 percent this Thanksgiving; those numbers, if you can believe it, are expected to get worse during the holidays.

Cyber security experts say cyber criminals — motivated by the poor economy — are in full force this holiday season. And the number of identity thefts are expected to spike accordingly.

But there are some simple and sensible tips from cyber security experts to help keep consumers safe this season. A few simple precautions can go a long way toward protecting your identity, your credit — and your money. Among them:

Get up-to-date Web browsers and antivirus software. Be sure to run security and anti-malware software — don't go online without it.

Stick to the core content on established retailers sites. Do not open any unsolicited e-mail promising great deals — you may get far more than you bargained for.

Be cautious of e-mail links; don't click on any links with which you are not well acquainted.

Look for security signs: If the Web address begins with "https" it means you are on a secure server using encryption.

Look for a padlock icon on the bottom of your browser and click on it. If the site address revealed does not match the Web site address on the top of the page, get off the site immediately.

Never share your password. Ever.

Use credit, not debit cards. Credit-card companies offer more protection against fraudulent purchases. The Federal Trade Commission points to federal law that limits your liability to $50 in the event someone uses your card fraudulently. Debit cards allow thieves to pull money directly from your account, which can take months to restore.

So this holiday shopping season, use caution. A little prudence can go a long way toward saving you the needless holiday headache of restoring your credit and your bank account.

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos