infoTECH News

[December 10, 2009]

Thieves shop for identities to steal during the holidays

Dec 10, 2009 (Florence Morning News - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Going online for the best bargains and deals is the norm for holiday shoppers, but federal officials say there also are people shopping online for identities to steal.

There were 10 million victims of identity theft last year -- a 22 percent increase over what was reported in 2007, according to a Javelin Strategy and Research report.

To avoid becoming an identity theft victim, shoppers should use caution while shopping online this season, said Kathy Graham, president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau of Coastal Carolina Inc.

When it's time to checkout online, make sure a payment is made using a secured site, according to the BBB.

Looking for the "s" in the https:// address and for the padlock symbol on the lower right corner of the payment screen will ensure the site is a secure one.

The BBB suggests online shoppers take it a step further and by right-clicking on the page and selecting "properties" from the menu.

From there, users are able to see the real Web site address and should be able to view a dialog box that will show if the site is encrypted.

All online purchases should be made with a credit card and not a debit card, Graham said in a press release.

The Fair Credit Billing Act allows consumers to dispute any charges that were made by an unauthorized user.

Email phishing is one of many ways scammers use to steal valuable personal information from internet users, Graham said.

"E-cards" from friends and family can appear harmless, but if the recipient clicks on the link, a virus can be installed on their computers, she said.

If a scam or an identity theft ring is suspected, the federal government encourages consumers to file a report at the Internet Crime Compliant Center, said Stephanie Jules, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Columbia.

The Internet Crime Complaint Center, or IC3, is a partnership between the FBI, the Bureau of Justice Assistance and the National White Collar Crime Center.

Filing a complaint alerts authorities about cyber crimes, and law enforcement at the federal and state levels can launch an investigation if necessary.

Even when they aren't shopping online, consumers need to exercise caution when shopping in malls or in stores.

"Identity theft can happen to you whether you're shopping online or shopping at the mall," Graham said. " (It's) critical that we all take specific steps to fight both low- and high-tech identity thieves." Graham said shoppers can avoid becoming the targets of pick pockets by not holding too many shopping bags at once and keeping purses and wallets in secure places.

Storing a wallet in a back pants pocket isn't a good idea, according to the BBB.

Additionally, shoppers should check their credit card statements regularly so fraudulent activity can be immediately detected and reported, she said.

For more information about identity theft or to report a cyber scam, visit www. ic3. gov.

For more information on safe holiday shopping, visit bbb.org.

-- Staff writer Jamie Rogers can be reached at (843) 317-7266.

To see more of the Florence Morning News or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.morningnewsonline.com. Copyright (c) 2009, Florence Morning News, S.C. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

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