USEFUL ADVICE TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM ELECTRONIC FRAUD
DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON |
The end of the year is probably the time when most fraud cases are reported, especially on the Internet and with credit and debit cards. Criminals take advantage of festivities to steal passwords and personal information from holiday shoppers by flooding the Internet with attractive offers on fake pages, sending emails with virtual greeting cards with virus or malware, and cloning cards . If you don’t want to fall victim to the fraudsters during this holiday season, you should stay alert, maximize your security measures and follow this easy advice.
When buying on the Internet:
- Type in the bank Web address yourself and never log in through links.
- Purchase only on well-known Web sites.
- Read the privacy and security policies of the site from which you are buying.
- Verify that the website address starts with https:// and that there is a padlock at the top of it. These indicate the page is safe.
- Do not complete electronic transactions in cyber cafes or public computers.
- Be careful with public Wi-Fi connections. Your communications and transactions may be tapped.
In your email account:
- Be careful with emails containing attached files or fake holiday cards sent by your friends. They may be virus, malware or spy programs that intend to infect your computer.
- Do not trust messages with special holiday offers that are sent to your email account. They may redirect you to fake and fraudulent pages.
- Do not pay attention to emails supposedly sent by your bank asking you to update your profile. Never provide personal information through these channels.
- Keep your browser and antivirus software updated.
When using your credit or debit card:
- Do not reveal your password or write it on the back of your card. Memorize it.
- Never lose sight of your card.
- Do not allow your card to be passed through devices different to dataphones or electronic payment terminals.
- Make sure nobody sees your personal password. Cover the keypad with your hands and body.
- Immediately report any irregular activity to your bank.
For additional information contact
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