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Security Tips
SHOPPING SAFELY ONLINE
The World Wide Web is an exciting tool that puts abundant information at your fingertips. With a click of the mouse, it lets you send flowers, buy airline tickets, book a vacation, and track or purchase stocks and mutual funds.
This is great. But before you use what the Internet has to offer, be smart and make your on-line experience safe.
Think Privacy and Security
When exploring on-line, remember the privacy and security questions you should ask about a company:
- What information does the company collect about me and is it secure?
- How Does it use that information and what is the benefit to me?
- What choices do I have about its use of information about me?
Security on the Internet
Shopping on-line offers lots of benefits that you won't find shopping in a store or by mail. For example, the Internet is always open--seven days a week, 24 hours a day. Bargains can be numerous. And you can shop the world over right at home.
Shopping on the Internet can also be safe. Keep in mind the following tips to help ensure that your on-line shopping experience is a safe one:
- Use a secure browser. The browser that comes with your Internet access software should have industry-standard encryption.
- Shop with companies you know. If you're not familiar with one, ask for a paper catalog or brochure to get a better idea of their merchandise and services.
- Keep your password private. Never give it to anyone. Avoid using a telephone number, birth date, or a portion of your Social Security number. Instead, use a combination of numbers, letters, and symbols.
- Pay by credit or charge card. Your transaaction will be protected by the Fair Credit Billing Act, under which you may have the right to dispute charges under certain circumstances and temporarily withhold payment while the creditor is investigating them.
- Keep a record. Be sure to print a copy of your ppurchase order and confirmation number for your records.
Website Offers : A Warning
Beware of offers made on Web sites. These are not considered to be genuine offers in writing and are not binding. The reason for this is that Web sites can be easily changed. An offer appearing one day may be gone the next, and you cannot prove what an offer was when you first saw it.
Be Forewarned
If you see an offer you're interested in, get the specifics in writing before taking advantage of it.
Sometimes in small writing they will have something saying that it will renew in a year. If this happens your debit card or credit card will be charged. If you don't want it to renew you will need to call the company and cancel the order before the renewal period is up.
FIVE WAYS TO AVOID GETTING BURNED
1. BE SKEPTICAL OF REQUESTS FOR PERSONAL INFORMATION. Phishing scams continue to grow because they work! Phishers have become very sophisticated at using emails to drive consumers to Websites that appear legitimate. Your best defense is to be skeptical. NEVER provide personal information such as your social security number, credit union information or credit card information unless you are confident that the source you are providing it to is legitimate.
2. CHANGE YOUR PASSWORDS. It's a good idea to change passwords for online accounts on a regular basis---particularly if you tend to use one password for several accounts. Don't forget to write down your new passwords and keep them in a safe place!
3. TYPE, DON'T LINK. Rather than access a website from an email link, type the Web address into your browser. This helps to keep you from being linked to fraudulent sites.
4. MIND YOUR CARD AT ATMs. In one of the newest ATM scams, the scammer inserts a metal loop into the machine that prevents the legitimate customer's card from being read. The scammer poses as a customer and stands behind the victim as he or she enters the PIN number. On the third attempt to to enter the PIN #, the machine retains the victim's card because of the multiple tries to enter the PIN #. The victim leaves thinking that the card has been safely retained. However the scammer extracts the card with the metal loop and, because he has the PIN #, can start using the card immediately.
5. MIND YOUR CARD IN RESTAURANTS AND STORES. It's the oldest trick in the book. Scammers rely on the fact that most shoppers don't look at their card when they get it back after a transaction.The victim may not notice for a long enough time for the scammer to go on quite a shopping spree. Always make sure that your card is the one that leaves the restaurant or store in your wallet!
