Welcome, To my guide on protecting yourself. From scams online.

Information in this guide comes from :

• Geico Direct access Fall, 2006
• National Endowment For The arts ( N.E.F.A ) who sent me the artical, fall issue, 2006
• eBaY trust and saftey announcement board - updated October 23rd, 2006
• Federal Trade Commission online fraud security awareness guide, 2006

Please if you find this guide helpful. Please dont forget to rate this guide at the bottom of the guide. thank you and stay safe....!!

The internet provides many opportunities to streamline our lives: E-Mail, Shopping, and other conveniences. Online transactions also present risks like E-Mail Scams and Identity theft. To combat these risks, We need to understand them. Here are five ( 5 ) things to keep in mind to make your online experience more secure.

• Be proactive about protection:

              Electronic security is something that takes vigilance and goes beyond setting up a password or user I.D. Virus protection and firewalls are key defense points for every internet user.

              TIPS: install virus protection and firewall software on your computer. Keep the updated monthly. By checking online at the manufactors webs site. For updates and quick fixes. A physical firewall or router is better but costs a little more.

• Dont make it easy for the crooks:

              Do you use the same password and user I.D for your bank, Brokerage and email and for paypal and for ebay accounts.?  This approach is common, but it makes passwords less effective. Do you write your passwords down. In a notebook that you keep. Next to your computer or in a desk drawler. You may think they are safe now. What do you think. A crook would steal. If they broke into your home. In 2005 in the United States. 1 million people reported. That a loved one or friend. Stole the passwords. To there accounts. Because they had done just this.

              TIPS: Use a different password for different accounts. Dont use obvious passwords like names of your children or your dogd name or birthdates. Use at least eight characters and try to include, if permitted numerals and or symbols. ALWAYS change your password. If you even think. Someone may have gotten ahold. Of your password, even if its a slight chance. ALWAYS change your passwords on a regual basis. For additional help on picking a good password do a Google search on "Pick a good password".

• Get smart about "Phishing" scams & fake eBaY and Paypal scams.

              E-mails with prompts such as "Click here to verify your account" or "Your account will be suspended if you ....." are almost always scams designed to look like they come from legitimate companies like ebay and paypal. Dont be fooled by the email scam that still has this prompts in it. If it address you by your first and last name. Those e-mail scams are the latest version. Of the same scams. In reality, the goal of these e-mails is to gain access to your financial information. and your passwords. Often, these e-mails have a link that will take you to a bogus web site ____________.COM which looks like the real web site. With instructions to enter your password. Or it will have instructions to enter your personal information for a verifcation process.

               TIPS: Dont respond to emails asking for your personal or account information. If you have even the slightest doubt about an e-mail. Close the email out. Open a new web browers and go. directly to the official web site, log in to your account as you normally would, and investigate the matter there. Ebay and paypal both. have excellent response centers for "Spoof" and phishing. Treat grammar and spelling errors as grounds for suspicion. Alot of the "Bogus" e-mails come out of countries. Where english is not even a second language.

• Beware the perils of paper:

               Contrary to popular belief, The majority of ( I.D ) Identity theft doesnt take place online. It happens as the result of criminals stealing mail, Stealing wallets, or stealing your trash...!!! Then rummaging through the trash for sensitive financial documents. Like electric bills, Phone bills, Credit card statements, Hospital or doctors bills, Old pay stubs, Discarded bank statements, .........

               TIPS: Shred your old mail, particularly bills and finacial statements; consider a mailbox with a lock; and dont carry more than is needed in your purse or wallet.

• Pay close attention to your documents and online accounts

                If misfortune finds you, the potential for damage can be reduced if you take action early. Waiting to make arrangements. Only gives the crooks a head start. The problem of stolen personal and financial data can become more expensive, and more difficult to correct, the longer it persists. On average it can take up to 5 years. to clear up damage done. when someone steals your identity.

               TIPS: Review your bank account and credit card statements regulary. Keep if possible a close eye on your paypal and ebay account. Even if you have no plans. To make any purchases in the near future. If any suspcious - looking transaction appear. IMMEDIATELY report them to the appropriate office or online account agents. As in the case of ebay. Do not go to live support but to ebay directly with a e-mail. Request your credit report at least annually. Consider a fraud monitoring service or identity theft insurance. The federal trade commission offers lots of helpful information on its web site.

I truely hope this guide is useful, If it has been useful to you. please rate the guide below.