Are you thinking about doing your shopping online? Well, why not? Shopping online is not only convenient; you can also avail of the best items at lower prices. But before you place your order, make sure that you are aware about Credit Card Fraud and Identity Theft. Although these crimes can also be done offline, the internet makes it easier for these scammers to steal people’s identity and use them in fraud.

Phishing Scams

“Phishing” is one of the most commonly used tricks that scammers use in stealing personal information from unsuspecting people. Phishing scams have been known to exist back in the 1990s and have grown prevalent ever since. How is a “phishing” done?

Scammers will usually receive an e-mail that disguises to be from a reputable online merchant. The recipient of the e-mail may be asked to enter his personal information for verification purposes. Millions of people today have reportedly received emails that seem to be from PayPal, the IRS, Amazon, and other trusted names in the web. Unsuspecting recipients may provide the information requesting not knowing that they are giving away their personal information to thieves.

The e-mail may also contain URLs or links that leads the recipient to a fake website. The website may look similar to the website of the company it mimics. If you’re not aware of this particular trick, you may be unwittingly filling up forms from these phony web sites, not knowing that you’re already being victimized by fraud and ID theft.

What You Should Do

The Federal Trade Commission warns all consumers against such tactics. Keep in mind that legitimate and reputable merchants, banks or government agencies never solicit information or verify information through e-mail. If you receive such e-mail in your inbox, don’t even open them right away. Call the company first for verification if they did send such e-mail. Never respond to such mails and never give out any of your personal details. For your protection, delete unsolicited or junk mails from your Trash folder immediately. Don’t even leave them there.

Remember that the URL of a secured website always begins with https:// and bears the pad locked icon in the bottom right corner of your browser. Be wary about filling up online forms without checking the security of the site. If you have been a victim of Identity Theft or Fraud, contact the FTC immediately.

Be Alert

If you’re going to purchase online, it’s best to do so from a reputable merchant. Check the store track record of service. Some online stores may offer you with huge savings and cheap price offers but if they don’t have a strong track record of service, you’re better off with a company that has been proven and tested. Make sure that the site uses a secured server and trusted online payment system. An online store should also provide a Privacy Policy on their site to protect their customer’s personal information.