Atlantic Star Safety - Internet Safety

Internet Safety-"Phishing" For The Right Safety Choices

Internet safety is an important topic in a World that becomes more and more technological everyday. As the internet grows, there are different hazards that continue to make Internet safety an imperative part of our total online experience. There is no end to the amount of cautionary stories pertaining to identify theft crimes perpetrated via the internet.

Many of these obstacles can be avoided with a few rules that help to ensure your own Internet safety . Take, for example, this story of a woman who was the victim of identify theft.

"I thought I was only doing what I was supposed to do when I received, what I thought was, an email alert from my bank. They said they needed me to provide my Social Security number, Birth Date and Address information to verify their records. They said that there had been several security breeches and that I needed to reply as soon as possible to avoid problems with my account.

Of course I did as they asked, and thought I had done the right thing until months later when I tried to obtain credit. I was shocked to find that there were multiple accounts opened in my name with purchases and cash advances totaling in the thousands of dollars. My credit was ruined, and, to this day, I still have a hard time when I have to make financial decisions. And to think that all of this could have been avoided with some simple rules of Internet safety ."

Mary Taylor, Nebraska

What Mary didn't know is that she had become a victim of a "phishing" scam, a term that refers to companies that seek to commit fraudulent activity by getting consumers to reveal their personal information. By providing them with this crucial information, they basically have an open door to obtaining credit in your name.

First and foremost, use the following rule of thumb to ensure a safe relationship with your bank. If your banking institution requests any type of personal information, never provide it via online. If this information is necessary to your account, going into a local branch is the best way to avoid being scammed.

Internet safety is one of the buzz words in the new world of technology. And, with anything, the more you know, the better choices you can make.