Cyber Monday prime opportunity for I.D. thieves: Tips to protect yourself

Online shopping is not only convenient, it can also save consumers money. Retailers routinely place their deepest discounts on their Web sites, often enhancing the offers with additional coupons and free shipping.

Not surprisingly, holiday shoppers will look online for gifts. According to the Forrester Research Group, online shopping this holiday season is expected to rise 8 percent over 2008 numbers. That also means greater opportunity for identity thieves. While Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, is marked by the rush of retail shoppers flooding stores, Cyber Monday just three days later marks the biggest online shopping day of the year.

And unscrupulous thieves are paying attention.

“It’s not that we as consumers are stupid,” said Todd Feinman, identity theft prevention expert and chief executive officer of Identity Finder software. “The hackers are getting better and better at what they are doing.”

That means shoppers have to be smarter. Atlanta Victims Assistance turned its attention to the issue recently through a collaborative initiative called Project SAFE, which is funded by a 2008 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice. The public awareness campaign involved a number of major organizations, including the Atlanta City Council, the Atlanta Police Department, Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater Atlanta and the Governor’s Office of Consumer Affairs.

While not excluded to online thefts, Georgia in 2008 was ranked seventh nationally for reported identity theft cases, according to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission. The FTC also reports that approximately 10 million Americans a year are victims of identity theft.

“Many different organizations have been working diligently to prevent identity thefts,” AVA executive director Brenda Muhammad said in a released statement. “But we’ve realized that we can help more people by combining our efforts.”

Consumers can do much to help themselves, as well. From online purchasing sites like PayPal to law enforcement agencies to companies focused solely on I.D. prevention theft efforts, the market is flooded with expert advise on responsible online shopping. Even the experts, however, are targets.

Feinman, who describes himself as “paranoid,” said he almost fell victim when he received a text message from someone claiming that his American Express card had been used fraudulently. When he replied to the text, they asked that he provide his credit card number for confirmation.

It’s just one of numerous scams designed to prey on the unsuspecting.

Here are tips provided by Feinman from Identity Finder,  PayPal and the AVA to help you protect yourself:

1. Don’t use public computers or use your credit card in unsecured locations.

While it’s nice to sit in a coffee shop and hop on the computer or pass time at the airport online, it’s not smart to shop in the process. Also, many people may use computers in hotel business offices to shop. That’s a big mistake. Public computers can have keyloggers that record your every keystroke. It’s best to use a secured line on your computer at home.

2. Use complex passwords.

You should use both lowercase and uppercase letters, combined with a series of numbers, as your password. Don’t make it any easier for hackers.

3. Use Web sites you trust.

During the holidays, you’ll look everywhere online for bargains. You might find the toy or special item you’ve looked for at a drastically reduced price on a site you’re not familiar with. While the temptation is strong, it’s best to stick to reputable companies before providing credit card information.

4. Check your credit report.

Take a look at your credit report, or at the very least your credit card statements, to make sure there are no unfamiliar charges there. Annualcreditreport.com gives you one free credit report a year; Feinman advises you to check it before and after the holidays to make sure no accounts or credit cards were opened in your name.

5. Beware of social media and live chats.

What a great time to reconnect with an old friend, right? Well, yes, if you recognize the name. People create fake Facebook pages to dig through your profile. Be sure not to use your year of birth on social media sites, and avoid exchanging personal information through live chats with people you do not know.

6. Do not click on links.

Avoid clicking on links in emails that ask for personal or financial information.

7. Don’t trust “scareware.”

Do not click on advertisements claiming your computer may have been infected with a virus. Rely on your system’s anti-virus protection for this.

8. Most important, use common sense.

If it’s too good to be true, it probably is.