Mike Andrew Consulting

Online Fraud and Identity Theft

By mike, Sep 13 in blog with 0 comments

Online fraud is a type of cybercrime that uses email, web sites, chat rooms or message boards. There are many different types of online fraud, including phishing and pharming scams, which use forged e-mails and Web sites to trick recipients into giving out personal information such as credit card data, social security numbers, and passwords.

When armed with a little technical advice and common sense, you can prevent online fraud. Symantec recommends following these basic steps to avoid becoming a victim of online fraud:

Do’s

Consider disabling file sharing on your computer.
Be careful about opening attachments, especially from unknown senders.
Familiarize yourself with a Web site’s privacy policy, especially if you are asked to provide confidential and/or personal data.
Review bank and credit card statements regularly.
Install and regularly update software firewall, antivirus, and anti-spyware solutions. We recommend Norton Internet Security for comprehensive protection.
Keep your Windows operating system and all your applications updated with the latest security patches.
Create strong passwords and protect them carefully or consider using password protection software. Norton Internet Security encrypts passwords for secure storage, monitors them for unapproved usage, and notifies you when a Web site offers secure login capabilities.
Lock your home mailbox.
Shred bank and credit card statements and other financial data before disposal.
Check your bank and credit card statements monthly.
Strong passwords have eight characters or more, and use a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols.
Take advantage of your right to a free annual credit report.
If you think you’ve become a victim of ID theft or cybercrime, report it to the proper authorities immediately. Visit the following websites for more information:
www.ic3.gov
www.fraud.org
www.cybercrime.gov

Don’ts

Don’t provide personal data to anyone over the phone or in person (for a job or loan application, for example) unless you are certain of the other party’s trustworthiness.
Don’t ever give out your personal information in response to an email, a web site you’ve come to through an external link, or a pop-up screen that appears on a real Web site. Open a new browser window and type the URL directly into the address bar to ensure the site is legitimate.
Don’t keep financial data on laptops unless absolutely necessary; laptops are far more likely to be stolen than desktops.

Source: http://uk.norton.com/16-tips-for-avoiding-online-fraud-and-identity-theft/article

About the author

Mike Andrew has been working with the Internet and small business for over 12 years. Mike has been a keynote speaker at conventions and seminars and conducted social media training sessions all over the world. Mike has an extensive media background having worked in electronic media for over 30 years. Mike specialises in social media and Internet marketing strategy, SEO techniques and search engine marketing campaigns. His articles appear on numerous blogs around the web as well as national magazines.