Security Online

Shopping online has many benefits: fast shipping, more options and better deals. However, there are certain risks that come with making purchases online that you should be aware of. Thankfully, these risks are well-documented and merchants and banks are likely to be on the side of the customer if you find you’ve been the victim of fraudulent online activity. Here we will outline some of these risks with recommendations for how to protect yourself online.

Identity theft
Identity theft occurs when your personal and/or financial information is stolen and used for fraudulent activities, such as purchases on your credit card, opening accounts in your name, and submitting false insurance claims to name a few. Oftentimes people do not know their identity has been stolen until they stop receiving bills, see unusual activity in their bank accounts or a severe impact to their credit score.

Gift cards
If you think you’re getting a bargain on a gift card through a third-party auction site, think again. Gift card exchanges are particularly susceptible to fraud when they involve cards with a zero balance. 

Phishing Schemes
Email or text messages that appear to be from a brand you recognize or are a patron of may in fact be a scam to obtain your personal information. These messages can look and feel legitimate, however they usually request an action from you to give your personal information, such as address, government ID number or account and credit card information.

Ransomware
Many phishing scams lead to ransomware, a form of malware where a scammer uses a fake email to encrypt your files, and makes them unavailable to you until you pay a fine. Scammers can also threaten to share personal or sensitive information publicly unless you pay. Once encrypted, your files are locked until the scammer decrypts the files.

Tips to protect yourself online:

  1. Use strong passwords when opening accounts with online businesses
  2. Be careful of how much personal information you store online
  3. Read online reviews and vet new businesses you come across
  4. Only shop on secure websites (indicated by https in the URL, or with a lock icon in the URL bar)
  5. Beware of phishing scams that appear to come from a reputable merchant but are fraudulent
  6. Monitor your bank statements for any unauthorized transactions 
  7. If you are asked for your identification number, ask why they need it and how they will protect it 
  8. Enable multi-factor authentication to access your online accounts for an added layer of protectionInstall antivirus software that can detect ransomware  

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