Protect your identity while holiday shopping online

  • Published
  • By Maj. Richard C. Ropac
  • 482nd Communications Squadron Commander
HOMESTEAD AIR RESERVE BASE, Fla. --  We are about to enter one of the most vulnerable times for identity theft. While the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas might be the busiest shopping season of the year; with it also comes the increased risk for identity theft. 

This holiday season is poised to be especially dangerous, thanks to the struggling economy, credit crunch and a generation of thieves that have grown more tech savvy. 

Perhaps the worst part about identity theft is that victims often don't know what's happened until substantial damage to their credit score or their savings has been done. 

In the past few years, some 27 million Americans had their identity stolen - that is one in five Americans. Odds are you know someone who has fell victim to this crime, but don't worry; there are smart ways to protect your personal information. 

· During the holiday season, check your accounts daily for any activity you did not initiate. If there is any unusual activity in your bank or credit card account that you did not initiate, contact your bank immediately. 

· Install reliable virus protection, anti-spyware software, and personal firewalls on your PC and make sure all of your security software is up-to-date before you do your online shopping. 

· Never respond to emails asking you to "confirm" transactions. These likely are "phishing" scams sent to steal your personal information. Delete them immediately. 

· Do not share your passwords with anyone and never provide your social security number, birth date, or other personal information in an e-mail. 

· Do business with companies you know and trust. Research a company before revealing personal or financial information online. If you get an email or pop-up message from the seller while you're browsing that asks for financial information, don't reply or click on the link in the message. Legitimate companies don't ask for this information via e-mail or pop-ups. 

· Watch out for fake "look-alike" sites. Some con artists disguise their web site as a well-known company's site. Check your browser's address bar to make sure you're always using the correct web site address. If the web site seems suspicious, leave it immediately and call the company. 

· Only provide personal information if you're on a secure web site. Once you are logged in, make sure the address starts with "https" (the "s" means it is secure). For added safety, check for a site certificate before submitting information on a secure page. 

Confirm the owner of the certificate by clicking on the padlock icon at the bottom of most browsers. You should see the owner listed as well as the site address. This address should match the Web site address at the top of the page; if they do not match, you may be at a fraudulent Web site and should not enter personal data. 

· To prevent your trash from divulging your identity, shred anything with your name, address, account number and birth date. That includes applications, blank checks, bills and any other documents with personal information. 

By following these guidelines, your on-line shopping experience will be safer and much more secure. 

Have a wonderful holiday season!