Be Secure With Your Online Shopping

Stay Alert!

http://about-threats.trendmicro.com/flashbooks/seasonswarnings/index.html
from WinCustomize Forums
 

Since we're getting down to the wire, I thought to add this little post about keeping your guard up.

 

This holiday season, your joy in giving can turn into a disaster if you're not careful!

 

TrendMicro has put together a slightly awkward, but still valuable reminder about how to beware and not fall prey to the Grinches and Blue Meanies who thrive off your naivete and desire to stretch your hard earned money.

 

Please take a minute and check out the tips in this online guide. The Doc wants no regrets this season!

 

 

And from an email I received:

 

Beware of credit card thieves! They're scamming every way possible (remember, these folks don't like real work).

 

  • Watch out for the cashier who's on the cell phone...might be snapping a pic of your card.

  • Watch out for the “switcheroo”: You give your card, but get back an old, expired card belonging to someone else. You will be charged those transactions made until you notify on loss! Be alert.

  • Typically, the thieves won't make large transactions: They don't want to set off alarms but rest assured, the “little” charges will add up very quickly!

 

From Lifehacker:

"If you shop online, your credit card number has been entered into at least one web site. While this is unavoidable, and just about as safe as using your credit card out in the real world, the fact still remains that your number could be intercepted and used to make unauthorized purchases. One easy way around that problem is using temporary credit card numbers. While not every bank offers this service, if yours does you might want to take advantage of it. If you're making a purchase online—especially at a site you don't trust—you just generate a unique credit card number that will expire after its first use. This is also extremely helpful if you sign up for a trial and want to prevent automatic re-billing."

 

Please reply to this thread with any scams you've learned about.

*There have been several noteworthy additions by Members, k10w3 has noted casual 'brush by' theft of credit card info by RFID chip radiation detection and recording. You can learn more HERE.

 

This Community is dear to us all, and nothing makes one feel as good as protecting loved ones.

 

That reminds me of another duty we all have: Please remember our troops this holiday any way you can. They're spread thin all around the world putting themselves in harm's way for us.

 

Please give them them the love they deserve.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

59,140 views 32 replies
Reply #1 from Elemental Forums Top

:digichet:

Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Sorry...I didn't understand your reply, Pantasd. What I meant was in our holiday joy, we should not forget those defending us far from home. I hope I didn't fail somehow in expressing that.

Offworld Trading Company
Reply #3 from Elemental Forums Top

:digichet:

 

 

Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top

You have mail.

Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top

A good post Doc, thanks for this one  :inlove:

Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Welcome! Love your new avatar, Shaunna! :thumbsup:

Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Good thing to support the troops! 

Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top

If we don't who will!

Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Welcome! Love your new avatar, Shaunna!

thanks doc , you know what they say, a change is as good as a holiday <3 :*

Reply #10 from Elemental Forums Top

its a good thing to support something good

but how can you suport that

Vietnamese civilian dead (both sides): ~200,000–2,000,000 and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rXPrfnU3G0 there are more things just iam to lazy to search

Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top

and the 2.5 million poles from WWII.....

Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Such as the WTC, Airplane bombings/hijackings/Supermarket bombs and suicide (actually homicide) bombers, Pantasd?

This thread was about Online Security. More important is our daily security provided by  those troops.... you aren't here, and might not be there were it not for those American citizens who wear uniforms and put themselves in harm's way for you too during the twentieth century and this one as well.

No one defends the bad things that can happen in a war.When the enemy wears no uniform, it becomes more difficult. They count on that for propaganda and to make the soldier/marine hesitate long enough to kill him/her. They have few if any scruples.

Until you've stood in their boots though, you have the luxury of criticizing them from a secure, relatively free, warm and dry civilian, protected place.

This IS about online security. Limit your comments to that. My wishes for our troops are mine. Feel free to leave if they offend you, without leaving a comment.

Reply #13 from Elemental Forums Top

you are wrong they dont provide security they make it even worse

 

but we can continue talking about online security and shoping

Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Pantasd:  Criticizing troops isn't relevant to this thread.  Take it to JoeUser.

Reply #15 from Elemental Forums Top

Supporting the troops is not the same as supporting the war(s).

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Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Folks, the thread is really about your Online Security.   ;)

Reply #17 from WinCustomize Forums Top

excellent timely reminder doc..... :thumbsup:

just today I filled out my wish list from a cool Nigerian online Christmas catalogue..... and am looking forward to my goodies arriving.... guaranteed by the son of a Prince no less....  I'm set....  ;)

Reply #18 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting sydneysiders, reply 17
excellent timely reminder doc.....

just today I filled out my wish list from a cool Nigerian online Christmas catalogue..... and am looking forward to my goodies arriving.... guaranteed by the son of a Prince no less....  I'm set.... 

Much appreciated touch.  :grin:   ;)

Reply #19 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Just added a quote from Lifehacker. It contains important info you might well never have seen or know about. I strongly recommend reading their complete article.

Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top

As careful as I am about these things I just learned something I never thought of.

"Watch out for the “switcheroo”: You give your card, but get back an old, expired card belonging to someone else"

I often give my card with my wallet open and in my hand than get my card back and just stick it in and put my wallet in my pocket. The switcheroo never dawned on me but will now. Thanks for the reminders.

Reply #21 from Elemental Forums Top

Pretty much every major online store has good safeguards in place when processing payments. It's much more likely that your card number will get "intercepted" because you have a keylogger you picked up from somewhere than snatched up from network traffic. 

You have to remember that credit card fraud is worse for the card companies because they foot the bill, so it's in their best interest to prevent it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Payment_Card_Industry_Data_Security_Standard

That online tip is basically worthless unless it's a really suspicious site that's trying to sell you something. They'd be better off recommending that people run several malware removal apps to make sure their systems are clean.

Reply #22 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting DaveBax, reply 20
As careful as I am about these things I just learned something I never thought of.

"Watch out for the “switcheroo”: You give your card, but get back an old, expired card belonging to someone else"

I often give my card with my wallet open and in my hand than get my card back and just stick it in and put my wallet in my pocket. The switcheroo never dawned on me but will now. Thanks for the reminders.

Glad to be of help. mate. Be sure to check out the Lifehacker article!

Credit card fraud? You're only covered from the time you notice you've been 'jacked' and notify the credit card company...up to that point, you're responsible.

Reply #23 from Elemental Forums Top

You should always check your bank account online after a day of shopping. Skimming is the hardest to detect, most likely you won't ever. To avoid the switcheroo, see with your bank if you can have a unique picture on your card. I don't know how it works in the US, but it's common here in Sweden. Then you can put pictures of your family or whatever on the card, and make it easily recognizable.

Also, don't ever let someone walk off with your card, saying the cashier is broken or the online thingymagick isn't working.

Preferably, noone should handle the cards except yourself. And cover your hand when putting in the pin code.

Reply #24 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Well said, Heavenfall. Swipe devices in gas stations have also been used to record and dump credit card info.