| There is no denying that identity fraud is on | | | | card number to the merchant directly. |
| the rise. It has been estimated that over 10 | | | | |
| million Americans have been affected in some | | | | Make sure you see a little lock somewhere on |
| way by having their identities stolen. So | | | | the bottom of the screen when you are making |
| how does it happen, and how can you avoid it | | | | an internet purchase. This implies that the |
| in the first place? | | | | vendor is utilizing some type of secure data |
| | | | transmission which makes it very difficult, |
| Your private information is not so private. | | | | but note not impossible, for someone to get |
| In fact, unless you take active steps to | | | | your private information. |
| protect your identity, someone determined to | | | | |
| obtain your confidential information can | | | | You need to be aware that websites that you |
| probably get a hold of it. Let's look at | | | | frequent may be duplicated by unscrupulous |
| some ways your information is obtained, and | | | | individuals. These sites may look virtually |
| how you can do a better job of keeping it to | | | | identical to the site you want to be at, but |
| yourself. | | | | it is in fact an imposter site. Be sure the |
| | | | site contains "http" in the url, and that |
| Be Aware that Today's Thieves are | | | | there is that little lock mentioned somewhere |
| Computer-Savvy | | | | on the bottom of the screen. |
| | | | |
| While there are still many that will go | | | | Be sure to shred any and all bills, receipts, |
| "dumpster diving" to get to your private, | | | | credit card charges, etc. that you are not |
| information, the fact is that many of today's | | | | going to be filing. "Dumpster diving" is |
| thieves are computer savvy. What does this | | | | still carried on today, and this remains a |
| mean to you? It means they can occasionally | | | | source of potential concern with regard to |
| intercept internet transactions. It means | | | | letting your sensitive data "loose". |
| they will do whatever it takes, including | | | | |
| posing as phony landlords, to obtain a copy | | | | It is certainly tedious to have to shred |
| of your credit report. It also means they | | | | documents, look for little locks on a |
| buy and sell sensitive data from other | | | | website, and be fairly certain you're making |
| "black-market internet criminals", in order | | | | internet purchases from reliable vendors. |
| to gain access to your confidential data. | | | | But in the long run, it just may help you |
| | | | prevent identity fraud. And that is |
| So what can you do about it? | | | | certainly worth your time and effort. A |
| | | | little prevention now just may mean the |
| Only make purchases on the internet from | | | | difference between keeping your good name |
| respectable, reputable merchants. Consider | | | | safe, vs spending 300 hours trying to clear |
| using Paypal instead of giving your credit | | | | up identity theft problems. |