Internet Security, Fraud and Shredders
The Internet grows by leaps and bounds each day, and so does the opportunity to be approached by people who are trying to rip you off.
As a computer user and consumer you really need to be aware of what is happening, and how to try to prevent these things from happening to you.
Be very suspicious of emails that you get that sound too good to be true! Also keep track of emails that you send. If you get reply emails to individuals and companies you have never sent to, be very suspicious.
Often someone using Phishing emails (trying to get your personal informationn from a fake email. A fake email may be made to look like it is from your bank, Paypal, Ebay or other company that you may be inclined to trust. The email may be titled something like “Your account will be deactivated unless you update your information” or “Your account has been suspended due to fraudulent activity, please update you’re information” there are as many different titles as there are users on the Internet probably.
The point is, pay very close attention to who this email is from, look for typos, also if you take your mouse and hover over the link in the email- look at the link, it is usually something strange, it is not pointing to the official site its is supposedly representing.
Another good practice: If you DO NOT use Compass Bank, Bank of America, or whatever company the email supposedly represents, then trash the email immediately or if your email provider has a way of marking an email as a possible phishing scam, mark the email.
Here is some really good information on how to try and avoid different types of fraud presented by the FBI.
Here is a large set of resources on Internet Fraud presented by USA.Gov.
If you feel you have been sent a fraudulent email or have been a victim of Internet fraud you can contact the Internet Crime Complaint Center
Also to help avoid fraud in your personal and business dealings, make sure you shred EVERYTHING , your unused information and old documents, everything you will throw out. Get yourself a good shredder. The smaller the pieces the better and usually try and get a cross cut/confetti cut shredder, they are some of the best.
Go to Staples.com for lots of useful security Information and to access your security risks and vulnerabilities. You can also sign up for Privacy Guard a valuable service to help protect your information. Or use LifeLock.com, another top notch company to help you protect your valuable information.
Here are a few good books: Scam Proof Your Life
Here is a good Identity Theft Prevention video presented by Staples: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHu6PlSFYsc
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHu6PlSFYsc]
