Safe Online Shopping

Payment Tips

+ Prevent Identity Theft

We all know there are crooks out there. If someone steals the numbers on your credit card account, you could face a lengthy battle trying to deal with the charges they make. Your best defense is to protect your credit card information by safeguarding your numbers and acting quickly if your cards are stolen.

: Only Use Secure Sites When Shopping Online

Web pages that ask for your personal information should have security features. Usually this means that they are delivered to your browser through HTTPS, a secure server communications layer. The URL or website address at the top of your browser window should start with https, not http. In addition, you can check for the key (Netscape) or lock (Internet Explorer) icon on your browser. If your browser’s security feature has been turned on, a pop up box will notify you when you enter a secure page.

A secure online shopping store is also protected by SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) Technology. SSL encrypts your data (translates the data into a string of gibberish characters) while it is being sent over the Internet. Only the computer that receives the message can decode the encryption. In this way, SSL prevents others from intercepting and reading your personal information.

! Copy Your Credit Card Information

If you have lots of credit cards, it’s hard to keep track of all of them. If your purse or wallet gets stolen, however, you will need to know all the account number information for your cards, as well as the 1-800 number of the credit card agency. Therefore, make a list of your cards, their numbers, and 1-800 numbers. Having the list will be much easier to cancel them, if you need to.

If you have flatbed scanner, you can copy them with that. Make sure you copy both fronts and backs. You may have to play with your scanner settings to get clear images. Print out the pages, then delete the files and empty your recycle bin. Otherwise, a hacker could get the numbers from your scanner file! Ditto if you decide to take digital pictures of them.

Store the information in a safe, secure area, like a safety deposit box, or a fireproof safe in your home—NOT the purse or wallet that has your credit cards inside. You may want to make copies and keep the list in more than one place, just be sure that no one can steal the list!

" Destroy Your Private Documents

Many thieves report that they got their information from their victim’s trash. Shredder manufacturers have done numerous studies to prove that trashcans are a gold mine to identity thieves. Are you always sure that the person picking up your trash is your regular trash collector? Destroying your private documents with a shredder, or burning them in your fireplace, can prevent a big hassle, and it’s well worth the effort.

( Report Lost or Stolen Credit Cards Immediately

If your credit cards are stolen, take immediate action. First, report the theft to the police where the theft occurred. If you are on vacation, don’t wait till you get home. Not only will you have alerted authorities. Then, report the theft to you credit card companies. They will cancel those card numbers, issue you new ones, and send you a new card. This is considered due diligence on your part and will limit your own personal liability.

7 Shopping With Paypal

If the online store accepts Paypal, you can safely pay by that method. The Paypal website uses the https technology, and the buyer is protected by their buyer’s guarantee. If the seller does not send you your item(s), Paypal will reimburse your money. If your merchant has a business Paypal account (which website retailers should have but some ebay sellers do not) you can choose to pay with a credit card or an instant debit from your checking account (checking account payment is default). One of the worst things about being a Paypal member, is the possibility of receiving spoof emails.

N Beware of Pfishermen

Pfishing, often misspelled phishing, is when thieves try to steal your Paypal, eBay or credit card login id and password by sending you spoof emails. These emails have creative messages like “If you did not buy this $500 watch, click here” or "EBay Registration Suspension Chapter 9, click here to confirm your registration" to trick you. DON'T DO IT! If you click, you are directed to a ‘login page’ that may look like Paypal (or eBay or a credit card site) but is NOT! If you enter your login information, you are giving it to the pfisher. The pfisher can then log in to your Paypal account using your information and change the password so that you can’t log in! And of course, they can steal any money in your account and use it to make illegal purchases.

. If You Suspect You Have Been Spoofed

If you do click through an email, enter your information, and then realize it was a scam, immediately open a new browser window and log in to the real eBay, Paypal, or credit card website. Then, change your password! Also notify Paypal or other organization that you have been spoofed! You can forward the spoof emails to spoof@paypal.com, spoof@ebay.com, etc.

P A Word About Passwords

One of the assignments often given in a college computer class is trying to guess passwords. Most people, even with all the warnings, use a password that is very easy to guess. The most commonly used passwords, at the time, were "Password" or "Password123". A password that is easy for most people to remember is probably not a good password! Try using something personal to you, but not easily guessed. Parts of names combined with each other make excellent passwords, especially if they are combined with a few random numbers. If you have a lot of passwords and will probably not remember a new one, make a list. Just remember where you put it!

0 Don’t Be an Easy Victim

Even though credit card thieves are become smarter and more aggressive, they still want the easiest victims they can get. Make it hard for them to access your information by being careful with your credit card number, login ID’s and passwords. Keep good records of your account numbers and act quickly if they are lost or stolen. By making it difficult for identity thieves to gain and use your information, you will be making life much easier for yourself.