Wednesday, 27 October 2010

Secure Online Shopping - Six simple rules

You've heard a thousand times or more,''If it seems too good to be true, it then becomes likely.''They also heard,''Just because you're paranoid does not mean that aren 't for.''Both are true, especially in the world of online shopping. The bad guys are out there and they want your money. Follow these six simple rules and you can almost guarantee that will not get it.

Rule 1: Do you know what you buy.

Counterfeiting is not onlyMoney - well, it is not only of forgery. International Anti-counterfeiting of branded merchandise to identity theft is slugging the fastest growing crime in the 21 Century. FBI says a new estimate that the U.S. brand owners lose 250 billion U.S. dollars of fake and counterfeit products each year. This hurts legitimate online dealers as much as it hurts buyers.

For consumers, these scams are not just for the money. Most counterfeit products are cheaper becausecutting economic significance counterfeiters cost cutting quality. Imagine starting the brake pads under the rules on your car, or artificial, low-grade your child. Worse, profits are often used fraud to finance other illegal activities. People that much and do not offer the right questions can help drug traffickers, terrorists, pornographers and other criminals.

Similarly, some sell genuine goods that is not what it claims to be. Some products, such as jewelry, havevery specific definitions required by law. For example, marketing a cultured pearl, like a natural pearl or implying that pure gold, placing tiny print saying it is only 18k, it is a hoax (also known as fraud) and is difficult to civil and criminal penalties.

Rule number two: white, from which it buys.

Check your contact information on the site. If you do not find it, go elsewhere - never to give money to people, if you can not get in touch with themto solve problems. Be wary of a merchant who is behind an e-mail. If you do not recognize the on-line merchant to submit the research. Avoid dealer with negative feedback from consumers.

Be sure to use the merchant site, a secure server. Most of the URLs that iniziano''mit''http, Secure Server https''''und have URLs that begin with a picture of a closed padlock or key appears in the corner of your browser window. This will ensure your personal data is encrypted or scrambled. Hackers sometimesBut through a secure server that your dealer to make their personal data.

Rule 3: The operations of private private.

Not for shared computers in libraries or computer rooms using online shopping. keystroke monitor criminal can take these computers so they can see exactly what you typed. If you do not register correctly, the session will remain open and others can access your account.

Most credit card companies limitthe customer's responsibility when it comes to fraudulent use of your credit card. rules of debit cards differ from bank to bank. Since a debit card that draws money directly (and sometimes suffered) from your checking account or savings account, it can take weeks or months to resolve disputes. Online purchases by credit card are safer in many ways.

Rule 4: Just say no.

Never give out personal information (social security number, account numbers, etc.)unless:

1) You know you've given;
2) Why is this person, company or group's needs, and
3) What is the data, including how they continue to do so safely.

There are several people and companies who have the right and need to know: your bank, employers and need your SSN to identify you for tax purposes. Your investment broker must account numbers to complete the transaction. Your doctor or lawyer will need a whole series of very private information. Wheneversomeone asks, the burden of proof is on them - requiring that they know their rights and know their need to justify.

When it comes to buying, they need to know very little. Read the privacy policy of the retailer. If there is no privacy policy, take your business elsewhere.

Rule 5: a policy of personal password.

Overstock.com, like most online shopping outlet, requires customers to access with a password. Do not use the same password for every site you visit. Aftermultiple passwords reduces the impact when it is compromised by them. Keep a list of all passwords - a printed version, not a computer text file that may have been violated - if forgotten.

For added security, do not use real words as passwords. Creating something that is easy to remember, but hard to find. . For example, if your name is Janice and your birthday is the first of the month, you could "jan01over 'overstock and password as' easy to remember (read:jan-oh-oh-one version), can be easy to use in multiple locations and there is really only a semi-random string of letters and numbers will be changed, it is much more difficult for "bad". guess

Rule 6: Knowledge is power.

Identity theft is the news every two weeks with a new horror story of compromised data or a new type of fraud. There are several sources of good information to help you stay healthy as possible. The major news organizations - print, radio,Cable or web - most people keep up to date. Your bank or insurance company must provide links to their websites and many offer some form of identity theft insurance.

If you received counterfeit goods, or do you think of identity theft have been harassed, contact your local law enforcement authorities. Dealing with a government agency, a process in itself, but taxes pay their salaries, so gentle, but persistent, to keep them until the problem is solved.

Keep all records of onlineThe operation and control against their monthly bills. Immediately report any discrepancies - the online merchant and your bank. When discarding old statements, rip. Request a copy of your credit report at least once a year. This allows you to check for any errors or suspicious activity. Some financial services companies to offer services, e-mail every time someone requests information on your credit card.

The bad guys are always out there, and some of them arevery clever - they know that people are not sloppy care when buying on-line. As safely as possible, all you need to do to be aware - and a bit 'paranoid!

For more information:

U.S. Federal Trade Commission: Deter, detect, Defend (http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/)
U.S. Department of Justice: Internet Fraud (http://www.usdoj.gov/criminal/fraud/internet/)

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