Posts Tagged as “Online”
12-20-09 | Katie | No Comments
You decided to try online dating. It can be a lot of fun, if you don’t get burned in the process. Aside from worrying about sexual deviants and possible serial killers you have to be worried about having your identity stolen.
Some people are creating phishing profiles designed to ensnare the lonely. How can you spot one? Just look for a girl (usually these profiles are female) that is too good to be true.
Does she look like a super model, love Stargate SG1 and the Denver Broncos? Proceed with caution. Beware if she is also, “open to experimentation” and lists beer as her favorite food. You’ve found a honey pot trap.
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12-14-09 | Katie | No Comments
Just to prove that anyone can claim to be anything online, this week a man who claimed to be a player for the Denver Broncos online was convicted of identity theft, and motor vehicle theft.
The 40 year old was going by the handle of Johnny Harlan. He managed to convince a number of users online to give out personal information, usually fans. He then used the fans information to get expensive cars and loans.
He faces upto 48 years in jail, but will not be sentinced until Feb. 26th. In additon to the charges he faces in his home town, he will also have to face charges in Denver.
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11-23-09 | Katie | No Comments
The biggest shopping day of the year is just around the corner. That means loads of good deals, and loads of people looking to trick you into giving out your personal information. How can you keep yourself safe when Black Friday (or Cyber Monday) shopping online?
- Don’t click that link. If a site tells you about a great deal from a side like Amazon or Walmart, make your way to the site via a search engine.
- Do not shop on sites that you do not know. If you must try a new site for your desired product, look for signs of a secure transaction, like https in the checkout URL.
- Never submit information that would not be normally needed to shop online. They don’t need your bank account numbers, or Pay Pal password.
Cyber shop safely.
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11-11-09 | Katie | No Comments
It is almost the holiday, and that means shopping, both in store and online, but how do you know that you can trust a store?
- Does the site look professional?
- Do they have a better business bureau or verisign seal of good business practices?
- Does the sites checkout begin with https.
If it does not meet these criteria, try another site.
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10-27-09 | Katie | No Comments
Getting a job is a real issue for many people right now and scammers are salivating with the ways that they can take advantage of this fact. Here are some more tips to help you keep safe while you are looking for a job.
- Never respond to a blind ad. You should always know what company you are applying to.
- If you have never heard of a company then look it up before you apply.
- When doing number two, go beyond the official site. Use a search engine.
- Make sure on of those search engine passes includes the word scam.
- Only give out reasonable information. A possible employer does not need to know where you bank.
- When it doubt, count yourself out. It is better to be safe, then sorry when it comes to having your identity stolen.
Now, you can enjoy the thrill of the chase while minimizing the risks. Happy job hunting.
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10-18-09 | Katie | No Comments
When it comes to the online world questions can be a great way to get to know someone. The question is, how do you know when a question is casual and when it is fishing for information? Well today we are going to look at some common questions.
Safe: Where do you come from?
Unsafe: What is your address?
Safe: What do (or did) you study in school?
Unsafe: Where do (did) you go to school and when is (was) graduation?
Basically the guideline is whether you are giving out personal information or just general inquiry. Keep your guard up and things will be ok.
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10-13-09 | Katie | No Comments
When you are playing an online game, like WOW or Second Life you are there to relax, but it is worth mentioning that you should still be careful about giving away personal data.
Sure that girl you’ve been chatting with has a hot avatar, but that doesn’t mean she isn’t going to take out three credit cards in your name.
Just remember that even though you are here to relax you still need to be on guard. Pratice the same general common sense rules that you would follow on any message board or chat room. If you do that you should be fine.
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10-5-09 | Katie | No Comments
Trusting an online shopping site can be a bit hard. Sure, if you are dealing with a mainstream site like Barnes and Noble or Amazon, things will probably be fine, but on smaller sites how do you know that you are not falling into a trap? Well, here are some guidelines:
1. Look for professional design, and signs of recent updates. Most scammers will not invest a great deal of time and energy in their trap.
2. Check for the security certificate and Https on the checkout section. These are mandatory if you are putting in personal data.
3. Look for satisfied, or angry customers. Take the 10 seconds to give it a Google before you buy.
Give it a try, before you buy.
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09-12-09 | Katie | No Comments
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As you go about your daily routine, running the circle from email to your RSS reader and Facebook to Twiiter you are leaving behind a digital foot print. Just like an escapee must be careful not to lead the Bloodhounds to their front door, you need to obscure your trail to ensure that you do not have your identity stolen. How do you do that? With some careful preparation try out these tips:
- Don’t re use your passwords.
- Create truly hard to crack passwords.
- Don’t sign into a password protected site on a public computer if you help it.
- Rotate your password at regular intervals.
- Vary your routine when possible.
- Be sure not to post too much personal information on any site.
Now you can be incognito!
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08-29-09 | Katie | No Comments
When you post on a blog, update your Facebook status or Tweet you probably don’t think much about your identity, but quietly someone maybe building a profile of you. Think about it.
Facebook/My Space/Linked In/ect…
- Full name
- Town
- Occupation
- Employer (possible)
Blog Posts
- Cause you believe in
- Your opinions
- Political or Alum groups you may belong to (depending on where you post and what you write)
Tweets
Be careful what and how much you post
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