While the internet has opened up many opportunities for law abiding citizens it has also presented fraudsters with new ways of committing fraud while helping them to remain anonymous, and enabling them to commit crime that crosses international borders.

Shopping and banking safely on line

When on-line bear in mind these handy hints which will enable you to shop and bank with confidence:

• Use a computer that you know is secure i.e. has up to date anti virus software and a firewall installed.
• Beware of using internet cafes or public computers for financial transactions.
• Only shop at secure websites - check that the unbroken padlock symbol is showing before sending your card details and that beginning of the retailers internet address has changed from http to https (which indicates a secure site).
• Shop only on sites that you trust, for example companies that you know or sites that have been recommended to you by a trusted source.
• Keep a record of any transaction you make - preferably print it out. Understand what you are paying for, know the merchant's refund policy and delivery conditions and have the merchant's postal address.
• Keep PINs, passwords and personal information safe. Be wary of any e-mails asking you to click on a link or confirm your details. Remember that reputable retailers, banks and the police will never ask you to disclose or confirm sensitive personal or security information. If you have any concerns about information that you have been asked to submit on line you should phone the organisation concerned on a number advertised elsewhere to check.
• Make sure that you keep your cards and card details safe in the real world. Most internet, phone and mail order fraud happens because card details have been stolen in the real world and then used in the virtual world.

Bogus e.mails – Phishing.

You will commonly receive what appears to be a genuine e.mail from a company such as a bank which is fraudulent to trick you into disclosing information which ordinarily you would not disclose.

For example, 2003 saw the proliferation of a phishing scam in which users received e-mails supposedly from eBay claiming that the user's account was about to be suspended unless he clicked on the provided link and updated the credit card information that the genuine eBay already had. Because it is relatively simple to make a Web site look like a legitimate organisations site by mimicking the HTML code, the scam counted on people being tricked into thinking they were actually being contacted by eBay and were subsequently going to eBay's site to update their account information. By spamming large groups of people, the "phisher" counted on the e-mail being read by a percentage of people who actually had listed credit card numbers with eBay legitimately. There are many variations of the scam but in essence it is to obtain your personal information in order to commit fraud primarily on your account or using your personal details. These e.mails can purport to be from every day high street banks such as your own. Sometimes they will appear even more legitimate as they give advice on how to avoid fraud but at the same time asking you to follow a link and key in your personal details and password etc to confirm or update your security information with the bank. However it will not be the bank you're communicating with it will be the fraudster. Some will carry Trojans in order that if you open and delete there will still be a Trojan in the background obtaining your information when you log into your bank etc.

What should I do?

Delete them without opening them. Ideally forward them onto your internet provider to take the appropriate action or the financial institution to which the e-mail is purporting to be from.

Only log onto your bank etc by your normal recognised route. Always operate and update your firewalls, virus software and spy ware and do regular scans. Be careful of cold callers on the phone who may purport to be a marketing company or representing your bank and may operate the same scam but over the phone rather than the internet.

IF YOU'RE UNSURE DON'T RESPOND.

Visit www.identity-theft.org.uk for further information and advice on how to protect yourself from fraud and identity theft.