10 ways to avoid fraud
With fraudulent activity on the rise, worldwide technology and solutions company, Unisys has released a list of top tips to help shoppers avoid identity theft from social media ruses, ATM card skimming, wireless network hacking and online shopping scams, amongst others.
1) Online Shopping Threats
According to Financial Fraud Action UK, phone, internet and mail order fraud cost Britons £134 million in the first half of 2009. So what to do to avoid becoming a victim? i) Shop on safe sites, look for the padlock icon at the bottom of the screen. ii) Where possible, use a credit card rather than a debit card as banks can often offer consumers a higher level of protection when a credit card is used. iii) Take the time to read seller feedback on sites such as eBay or Amazon. Poor ratings or no ratings at all usually mean that the seller is not someone you should be doing business with. Be sure to check your bank statements regularly for any unexpected ‘purchases’.
2) Seasonal Spyware
The number of malicious e-cards circulating over national holidays and celebrations is on the rise, so never open an email or attachment from an unknown sender and don’t download ‘exe’ files as these often contain adware, malware, unwanted downloads and spyware. If you can’t resist opening a file, drag it into your ‘junk’ email folder first as this allows you to check all the links to see if they are legitimate. If a site looks suspicious, don’t click on it. If you do get caught out, be sure to run a virus scan to clean up your machine afterwards.
3) ‘Not So Social’ Networking
According to GetSafeOnline, one in four people using social networking sites have posted confidential or personal information such as phone number, address or email on their online profile. Be wary of games or quizzes where you input your details (name of first pet, mother’s maiden name etc) to work out your quirky name (e.g. Santa’s elf), as these are often devices used to harvest personal details, which are then sold on to the highest bidder.
4) Beware ATM Skimmers
According to the European ATM Security Team, ATM card trapping scams are up a staggering 640%. If you think someone is too close behind you or looking over your shoulder, find a different ATM machine. Thieves are becoming more sophisticated, so check the actual structure of the machine to make sure that it is solid and sturdy. Skimming scams involve the front of the ATM being fitted with a false panel which contains a small webcam or digital camera which can capture your details. If the ATM machine appears to be behaving oddly or does not work the first time, go to a different machine – don’t try it again!
5) Fake Online Payment Sites
Escrow services such as PayPal allow businesses and consumers to send and receive payments securely online. But escrow scams are on the increase. Legitimate Escrow sites are secure. If you are unsure, check that they have SSL certification, indicated by the locked padlock at the bottom of the screen. Also check that the web address starts as https:// rather than just http:// as this is often an indicator of rogue traders. A real escrow company will also only ask you to transfer money to them directly from your bank, i.e. a traceable transfer. If they ask for another method, refuse. Before you send anything, verify with your bank where the receiving bank is located. If this looks like it is outside the seller's own country, stop the transaction.
6) ‘Spirit of Giving’ Watch out for emails or tweets from charities that ask for donations, particularly if you have never signed up to receive correspondence from them. Be sure to check that door-to-door charity collectors have some form of identification and if in doubt, phone the charity directly to ask if they have sent representatives out to collect donations in your street – genuine charity collectors won’t mind standing outside the house while you do this.
7) Gift Grabbers
Thieves are more likely to target homes with home theatre or PC boxes in the rubbish. The same is true of bills, receipts and financial statements – increasingly, ID fraudsters empty bins to piece together old bank statements, utility bills and receipts. It’s also possible to intercept people’s post, before it even reaches the intended recipient. Similarly, don’t forget that using social networks to post photos of expensive belongings or dates when you are away from home can act as an invitation for would-be thieves searching for their next target.
8) Protect your New Laptop
If you have a new PC or laptop running on MS Vista or Windows 7 make sure you have enabled the firewall before connecting to the Internet and are using anti-malware software. Whether you are connected to a wireless network or via a cable, on average, it can take just 9 seconds for your new PC/laptop to receive its first ‘ping’ attack and less than a minute to receive its first virus.
9) ‘Free’ Wi-Fi and Wireless Network Hacks
If you are setting up a wireless network at home (or workplace) ensure it is secure as wi-fi networks radiate beyond the confines of your house making them vulnerable to ‘wardriving’. Wardriving is when a person searches for unsecure wireless networks from a moving vehicle and uses them to anonymously download illegal material or perpetrate attacks that look as though they are coming from you. Wardrivers are also known to hack into computers to steal personal details. The best known case of “wardriving” is the TK Maxx case where the company lost over 45.7 million personal credit and debit card details. The crime went on for four years before it was detected.
10) Account Check Cons
Be wary of account checking scams at home or work where a phoney ‘representative’ of a bank or supplier contacts you to ask for account details in order to update their records. In the lead-up to Christmas, remind your family, friends and colleagues to err on the side of caution and refuse to give out any personal details either on the phone or online. If you think the call is genuine, ask to call them back directly and check the number is real by visiting their website before you call back. Recently in the UK, fraudsters have been calling members of the public to ‘verify stored personal data because of the Data Protection Act’. This is a scam; make sure they tell you what data they hold on you before you verify any details.
For more information, visit www.unsyssecurityindex.com
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