Protecting your identity online27 September 2005
Faster Internet connections and greater availability of products online has seen a dramatic rise in the number of consumers choosing to shop online, with recent research showing growth in e-retail is outstripping that of traditional bricks and mortar shops.
Risks
However, there are still a number of risks associated with shopping and giving out personal details online. The most prominent of these is identity theft, which has been shown to cost the UK more than £1.3 billion each year. It is also often cited in surveys as the number one reason why consumers shy away from shopping online.
Keep your ID safe
Here are some practical hints and tips to help keep your personal and business identity safe when shopping, banking or trading online:
- Before conducting any online transaction, ensure you choose a secure password. It should be one that cannot easily be guessed and should mix both upper and lower case letters with numbers. See our previous password feature for help choosing secure passwords.
- When purchasing online, look for the Trust UK and Internet Shopping is Safe symbols. Online traders that have signed up to these schemes abide by strict codes of practice to protect your privacy and ensure payments are secure.
- Before entering your credit card details to make a purchase, make sure the site has Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption, better known as a golden padlock or key, and a valid security certificate. Reputable traders will let you view their security certificate prior to making your purchase.
- Set up a code with your credit card company that can be used to verify your details prior to making a purchase online. MasterCard SecureCode and Verified by Visa, for example, require you to enter a cardholder password before a purchase can be charged to your card.
- Disregard any emails from banks, retailers or other sources asking for personal details including bank account passwords and pin numbers. These are likely to be phishing scams which send out 'spoof' emails with links to fraudulent websites. The Association for Payment Clearing Services provides a checklist of ways to protect yourself from falling victim to these scams.
These are just some of the ways you can attempt to protect your identity when shopping, banking or trading online. For further information see this useful website from the Home Office, which provides further explanation of identity fraud and how to keep your identity, and your business' identity, safe.
