ON LINE SAFETY TIPS
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With the bad economy, criminals have stepped up their activities. Use the following tips to be on guard to
stay safe in the virtual world of online shops and in the real world of bricks and mortar.
IN THE VIRTUAL WORLD:
Make sure your computer is safe. Use a firewall, install anti-virus and anti-spyware software, spam
filters and pop-up blockers, Keep them all up to date.
Use strong passwords for online accounts. Use passwords of eight characters or more, with numbers,
special characters and upper and lower case letters.
Guard the security of your transaction. When submitting your purchase information, look for the "lock"
icon on the browser's status bar and be sure "https" or "shttp" appear in the website's address bar.
Keep a paper trail and check your credit card and bank statements regularly. Print and save records of
your online transactions, including the product description and price, the online receipt and copies of every
email you send or receive from the seller. Read your credit card and bank statements as you receive
them and be on the lookout for any unauthorized charges.
Be on the lookout for phishing attempts. Remember, your bank and your credit card companies already
have your account information. They will never contact you by email or phone and ask you for it. Never
respond to anyone who asks you for personal information--online, by phone, or even in person.
Be wary with e-cards and other emails. Do not open emails from people you do not know.
Report abuse. Report internet fraud to the FBI's Internet Fraud Complaint Center. Report all kinds of
consumer fraud to the Federal Trade Commission by calling 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357).
IN THE REAL WORLD:
Shop during daylight hours whenever possible.
Shop with friendsand family, especially at night.
Be extra careful if you carry and wallet or purse. They are prime targets of criminals in crowded areas.
Keep cash and credit cards in your front pocket.
Avoid carrying large amounts of cash.
Pay for purchases with a credit card or check when possible.
Stay alert to your surroundings.
Notify your credit card issuer immediately if your credit card is lost, stolen or misused.
Keep a record of all your credit card numbers in a safe place at home.
Avoid overloading yourself with packages. It is important to have clear visibility and freedom of motion to
avoid mishaps.
Keep packages in your trunk.
Be aware of strangers approaching you for any reason. At this time of year, con-artists try various
methods of distracting you with the intention of taking your money or belongings.
If your leaving town for the holidays, make sure your home appears occupied by using timer lights and
having neighbors take care of your mail and newspapers.
MALICIOUS EMAIL ALERT!
Do any of these Email subjects sound familiar?
Amazing Speech by Obama
Online Order for Flight
CNN News Alert
UPS Delivery Failure
You've Received a Postcard
Mail Server Report
Will You Be of Help? By Staff Sgt Gerald Hendricks
These subjects make it appear you are receiving important information that needs your attention. Actually,
this is a common technique used to lure an email recipient into reading a message and performing a
specific action - such as clicking on an email attachment or following a link to a web page. Every single
day, the spammers and hackers come up with a new approach to trick email readers into doing
something that will install malware (viruses, bots, Trojans, worms, keyboard loggers, etc) onto their
computer. These are call Malicious Emails.
Before you open and email or open and attachment, ask yourself this:
Is the email from someone I know?
Have you ever received an email from the sender before?
Were you expecting an email and attachment from this sender?
Does the email sender and contents make sense? (Ask yourself: Am I expecting a package? Did I
purchase a flight?)
Is this spam?
If you receive malicious email, DELETE IT! If you aren't sure about the email, err on the side of caution,
DELETE IT!
Please, use antivirus, spam, spyware and firewall filters at home and at work. Many internet service
providers will provide free security suites for you to use on your home computer. Be sure to install a
security suite on your home computer and keep it up to date.
THIS HAS BEEN A COURTESY OF GRIMBERG ENTERPRISES
YOUR TOTAL PERSONAL AND PROPERTY PROTECTION STORE