10 tips to protect yourself from cyber-fraud

By JANEY ADAMS
Observer Staff

The holiday shopping season is in full swing, and more consumers than ever before are putting their money where their mouse is.

In the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday, online shoppers spent more than $10 billion, surpassing last year’s Web spending in that same time period by 17 percent. On Cyber Monday alone – the Monday after Thanksgiving that typically sees a surge in online spending – consumers spent a record $733 million online, according to market research firm comScore Inc.

While consumers will likely spend billions more before Christmas, they’re still uneasy about e-commerce. This week, the Better Business Bureau released a survey showing 60 percent of adult online shoppers are worried about identity theft; 45 percent said the prospect of being bombarded by spam and junk e-mails makes them think twice before completing an online purchase.

To allay those fears, the bureau has offered the following tips for safe, online shopping this holiday season:

1. Protect your computer

Keep your computer updated with the latest spam filters, anti-virus and anti-spyware software, and a secure firewall.

2. Use trustworthy Web sites

Check the seller’s reputation through the Better Business Bureau, the Yellow Pages or a consumer protection agency.

3. Guard your personal information

Read the site’s privacy policy to understand how your personal information will be used. Never enter your Social Security number; there is no reason for an online merchant to ask for it.

4. Trust your gut

If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Use your instincts.

5. Beware of phishing

Reputable businesses don’t ask for sensitive or financial information through e-mail. Don’t respond to these e-mails, and don’t click on any links within the e-mail. Call the retailer directly, and ask if there’s a problem.

6. Confirm that your purchase is secure

In the address box, look for an “s” in “https://” and for a padlock symbol in the lower-right corner. When in doubt, right-click anywhere on the page and select “Properties.” This will let you see the site’s URL and whether or not the site is encrypted.

7. Pay with a credit card

It’s best to use a true credit card – not a debit or ATM card – because federal law gives you the right to dispute the charges if you don’t get what you were promised or if there are unauthorized charges.

8. Keep documentation of your order

After you’ve completed the order process, print out your confirmation page or online receipt. If you receive an e-mail confirmation of your order, save it.

9. Check your credit card statement often

Check your credit card statements regularly for suspicious activity either online or by calling the company. Don’t wait for your statement to arrive in the mail.

10. Know your rights

Federal law requires that orders made by mail, phone or online be shipped by the date promised or, if no delivery time was stated, within 30 days. If your purchase isn’t shipped on time, you can cancel the order and demand a refund.

Source: Better Business Bureau

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Resources:

The National Fraud Information Center

Federal Trade Commission’s guide for online consumers