December '06 Tools

According to the National Cyber Security Alliance, one in every ten online adults could become a victim of online fraud this holiday season.

To beat the crowds and holiday shopping traffic, more and more consumers are turning to the Internet to do their shopping. Over 60% of online adults will make purchases online this holiday season. Additionally, 37% of online adults have increased their number of online purchases compared to one year ago.

While helping consumers shop faster and and more conveniently, the Internet can also be potentially risky for consumers who aren't careful. In fact, one in ten online adults (10%) are reported to have been a victim of online fraud.

Computer savvy consumers need to take steps to protect themselves by using the right security technology so they can enjoy the holidays without becoming a victim of cyber crime.

Here are some important guidelines for safe holiday shopping online...

Before shopping online, be sure your computer is secure: 1) Install anti-virus and anti-spyware programs and keep them up to date; 2) Scan your computer for spyware, and remove it. A large percentage of spyware is designed to steal your personal data such as credit card numbers, bank account information and passwords; 3) Install a firewall; 4) Regularly update your operating system software.
Update your browser - use Firefox 2.0, IE 7, Safari, or Opera and turn the security settings to the highest level.
Know who you’re dealing with. Before shopping online with an unknown e-store, check out the seller and be sure to get the name and physical address of the seller in case something goes wrong. If you’re buying gifts on an online auction site, check the track record of the seller before you bid. Check out unfamiliar sellers with the Better Business Bureau (http://www.bbb.com) and your state or local consumer protection agency. Do a search for the company name in Google Groups (http://groups.google.com) to see if anyone has reported any problems. If you're buying gifts on an online auction site that provides a feedback forum, check the track record of the seller before you bid.
Get all the details. Along with how much the product or service costs; find out what is included for that price; whether there are shipping charges; the delivery time, if any; the seller's privacy policy; and the cancellation and return policy.
Look for signs that online purchases are secure. At the point that you are providing your payment information, the beginning of the Web site address should change from http to shttp or https, indicating that the information is being encrypted — turned into code that can only be read by the seller. Your browser may also signal that the information is secure with a symbol, such as a broken key that becomes whole or a padlock that closes.
Don’t shop online while using an unencrypted or open wireless network. Hackers and thieves can use your open/unencrypted or a store’s wireless network to break into your computer and capture your financial information.
Pay the safest way. It's best to use a credit card, especially when you're purchasing something that will be delivered later, because under federal law you can dispute the charges if you don't get what you were promised. You also have dispute rights if there are unauthorized charges on your credit card, and many card issues have "zero liability" policies under which you pay nothing if someone steals your credit card number and uses it.
Check your credit card and bank statements carefully. Notify the bank immediately if there are unauthorized charges or debits, if you were charged more than you should have been, or if there are any other problems.
Never enter your personal information in a pop-up screen. When you visit a company's Web site, an unauthorized pop-up screen created by an identity thief could appear, with blanks for you to provide your personal information. Legitimate companies don't ask for personal information via pop-up screens. Install pop-up blocking software to avoid this type of scam.
Keep documentation of your order. When you've completed the online order process, there may be a final confirmation page and/or you might receive confirmation by email. Keep printouts of the web pages where you placed your orders with details about the transaction, including your emails to the retailers and their responses to you, in case you're not satisfied.
Know your rights. Federal law requires orders made by mail, phone or online to be shipped by the date promised or, if no delivery time was stated, within 30 days. If the goods aren't shipped on time, you can cancel and demand a refund. There is no general three-day cancellation right, but you do have the right to reject merchandise if it's defective or was misrepresented. Otherwise, it's the company's policies that determine if you can cancel the purchase and whether you can get a refund or credit.
Don't buy things in response to unsolicited emails from unknown companies, since these may be fraudulent. Fraudulent spammers are very adept at making their emails look like they came from legitimate businesses. When in doubt, do not click on the contained in the email. Instead, go online and go directly to the store's website.
Be suspicious if someone contacts you unexpectedly and asks for your personal information. Identity thieves send out bogus emails about problems with consumers' accounts to lure them into providing their personal information. Legitimate companies don't operate that way.
Beware of emails offering loans or credit, even if you have credit problems. Con artists take advantage of cash-strapped consumers during the holidays to offer personal loans or credit cards for a fee upfront. These scammers simply take the money and run.
Contact the seller promptly about any problems with your order. Check the company's Web site for a customer service page, "contact us" link, email address, or phone number to get your complaint addressed or questions answered. If you can't resolve the problem, contact the Better Business Bureau or your state or local consumer protection agency for help.
If you suspect a business may have broken the law, file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. You can call the FTC toll-free at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357) or file a complaint online at http://www.ftc.gov.