Online fraud is a type of cybercrime that uses email, web sites, chat rooms or message boards

1. Online Fraud and
Identity Theft
Transact Safely - Symantec Corp.
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2. Online fraud is a type of cybercrime that uses email,
web sites, chat rooms or message boards. There are
many different types of online fraud, including
phishing and pharming scams, which use forged e-mails
and Web sites to trick recipients into giving out
personal information such as credit card data, social
security numbers, and passwords.
When armed with a little technical advice and common
sense, you can prevent online fraud. Symantec
recommends following these basic steps to avoid
becoming a victim of online fraud:

3. Do's
Consider disabling file sharing on your computer.
Be careful about opening attachments, especially from
unknown senders.
Familiarize yourself with a Web site’s privacy policy,
especially if you are asked to provide confidential and/or
personal data.
Review bank and credit card statements regularly.
Install and regularly update software firewall,
antivirus, and anti-spyware solutions. We recommend
Norton Internet Security for comprehensive protection.
Keep your Windows operating system and all your
applications updated with the latest security patches.
Create strong passwords and protect them carefully or
consider using password protection software. Norton
Internet Security encrypts passwords for secure storage,
monitors them for unapproved usage, and notifies you
when a Web site offers secure login capabilities.

4. Lock your home mailbox.
Shred bank and credit card statements and
other financial data before disposal.
Check your bank and credit card statements
monthly.
Strong passwords have eight characters or
more, and use a combination of letters,
numbers, and symbols.
Take advantage of your right to a free
annual credit report.
If you think you’ve become a victim of ID
theft or cybercrime, report it to the proper
authorities immediately. Visit the following
websites for more information:
www.ic3.gov
www.fraud.org
www.cybercrime.gov

5. Don’ts
Don’t provide personal data to anyone over
the phone or in person (for a job or loan
application, for example) unless you are
certain of the other party’s trustworthiness.
Don’t ever give out your personal information
in response to an email, a web site you’ve come
to through an external link, or a pop-up screen
that appears on a real Web site. Open a new
browser window and type the URL directly
into the address bar to ensure the site is
legitimate.
Don’t keep financial data on laptops unless
absolutely necessary; laptops are far more
likely to be stolen than desktops.