A few tips for online protection.
1. Only give personal information like credit card number, account number, and social security number once. From then on only use passwords. If you lost a credit card you will have to give paypal or amazon the new number (Once only). If you get a request to resubmit such info report such request to the fraud division of the business or bank.
2. Banks and Credit Card Companies never request information from email and rarely from phone. If emailed, disregard email and go to your banks website without using a link. If called say thank you, I will call you back now, then hang up and dial the number on the back of your credit or ATM card for that financial institution.
3. If you have popups or computer problems, do use your credit card or account number. Some spyware can watch what you type. Never use a public computer to enter financial information ever.
Online Banking:
(follow all above steps plus...)
1. Sign up at the actual bank. That way only your password and username are used online.
2. If your social security number is your account number get it changed.
3. If your social security number is your password get it changed.
(most banks no longer have 2 and 3 but some older accounts still have not changed to the new policies)
It should be noted that online is still relatively safe. The VAST majority of identity theft is in the physical world and the average $$ lost is about 10 times more in the "real" world. For example the only family member who I know had such a problem was 2 $2500 purchases at home depot from their credit card in buffalo New York. The only place they stopped in Buffalo was a gas station, not surprising the card number stolen was the one used to purchase gas.
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
Phishers have changed bait
Well the public is getting smarter. Email's telling you that Amazon, Ebay, or Paypal need you to resubmit your personal information because there was a "problem" is no longer cutting it. The new trick is to send an email informing you someone is trying to steal your identity. Unfortunately the person trying to steal your information is the email sender.
Take this email I received, supposedly from paypal. The link is actually but instead of "Click Here" it has [https://www.paypal.com/row/wf/f=ap_email] to make you think thats what it links to.
A few tips for online protection.
1. Only give personal information like credit card number, account number, and social security number once. From then on only use passwords. If you lost a credit card you will have to give paypal or amazon the new number (Once only). If you get a request to resubmit such info report such request to the fraud division of the business or bank.
2. Banks and Credit Card Companies never request information from email and rarely from phone. If emailed, disregard email and go to your banks website without using a link. If called say thank you, I will call you back now, then hang up and dial the number on the back of your credit or ATM card for that financial institution.
3. If you have popups or computer problems, do use your credit card or account number. Some spyware can watch what you type. Never use a public computer to enter financial information ever.
Online Banking:
(follow all above steps plus...)
1. Sign up at the actual bank. That way only your password and username are used online.
2. If your social security number is your account number get it changed.
3. If your social security number is your password get it changed.
(most banks no longer have 2 and 3 but some older accounts still have not changed to the new policies)
It should be noted that online is still relatively safe. The VAST majority of identity theft is in the physical world and the average $$ lost is about 10 times more in the "real" world. For example the only family member who I know had such a problem was 2 $2500 purchases at home depot from their credit card in buffalo New York. The only place they stopped in Buffalo was a gas station, not surprising the card number stolen was the one used to purchase gas.
A few tips for online protection.
1. Only give personal information like credit card number, account number, and social security number once. From then on only use passwords. If you lost a credit card you will have to give paypal or amazon the new number (Once only). If you get a request to resubmit such info report such request to the fraud division of the business or bank.
2. Banks and Credit Card Companies never request information from email and rarely from phone. If emailed, disregard email and go to your banks website without using a link. If called say thank you, I will call you back now, then hang up and dial the number on the back of your credit or ATM card for that financial institution.
3. If you have popups or computer problems, do use your credit card or account number. Some spyware can watch what you type. Never use a public computer to enter financial information ever.
Online Banking:
(follow all above steps plus...)
1. Sign up at the actual bank. That way only your password and username are used online.
2. If your social security number is your account number get it changed.
3. If your social security number is your password get it changed.
(most banks no longer have 2 and 3 but some older accounts still have not changed to the new policies)
It should be noted that online is still relatively safe. The VAST majority of identity theft is in the physical world and the average $$ lost is about 10 times more in the "real" world. For example the only family member who I know had such a problem was 2 $2500 purchases at home depot from their credit card in buffalo New York. The only place they stopped in Buffalo was a gas station, not surprising the card number stolen was the one used to purchase gas.
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