Red Flag 6

 

When it comes to identity theft, many experts agree that the Internet is safe, if you follow a few basic rules.

 

First, note the precautions in Red Flag 2 concerning email and phishing scams. For short movie explaining malware, click here.

 

Never provide non-public personal information (NPI) if you get an unsolicited request by email.   

 

If you participate in “chat rooms” or any social networking, do not provide your birthdates or other NPI.  If you post information about yourself on the Internet, do not post NPI.  Don’t provide your birth date.  Your birthdates is one of three pieces of key personal information that a thief needs to wreck your life  — name, birthdates and social security number.

 

Parents, should educate their children on NOT sharing NPI by email, in chat rooms or through social networking on the web.

 

When you use websites to place orders, take a couple of precautions.

 

1. Check out the company you are ordering from.  Are they legitimate?  Do a web search and make sure you are ordering from a real company, and not just one who will take your credit card information and make charges to it.

 

2. Make sure you are ordering from a secure website.  A secure websites URL will read: https// - - -  and not http// - - -  think of the additional “s” as meaning Secure.  Do you see the icon of the closed padlock?   The closed padlock signifies a secure website.

 

3. Use security programs on your personal computer.  A virus program, which is kept up to date daily, is a must. A firewall  program and an anti-spyware and anti-malware program are musts.