December 2,2008
-
TTTT's for Online Transactions, Pt.4 –
– CC Fraud is serious, successful industry.9. Shut down connection: It may be a hassle, but there is always a possibility that some worm has crept into your apple while you were happily shopping online with your credit card. If you use Internet service that easily disconnects (logs completely off the Internet), do that immediately after your purchase. If not, it may be worth re-booting your computer so that any sensitive credit card information is for sure not lingering somewhere. Leaving your computer on and still connected to the Internet for long periods of time allows hackers more time to break into your system. Malicious hackers spend all their time phishing and spamming computers left unattended, trying to control them remotely for their cyber crimes like stealing credit card info.
10. Avoid email interrogations: Occasionally attackers will broadcast e-mail requesting sensitive information that may help them in identity and credit card fraud. Sometimes they come in the form of conformations for purchases and seem innocent enough. What they really are is a ploy to get this information. Many people think that it is customary for legitimate businesses to do this but it is not. Be wary of this activity. They may be soliciting your credit card info.
Shopping online should be a pleasant experience. But remember, anytime credit cards are used, whether in person or otherwise, there are always thieves among us. Credit card fraud has become one of the leading industries in our nation. So big in fact, that as you read this, the fraud industry is boldly applying before Congress for a government bailout because of the economy. Bold new fraud shopping sites are posting all over the world presenting $5.3 billion worth of chargeable stolen cards. Forty-five percent of those sites are posted from web servers right in this country. They do move around a bit, to evade authorities. Their best-selling items are credit card accounts with the CVV2 numbers included (little 3 to 4-digit number on back of card on right side of signature pad). Prices as low as $0.70 per account when bought in large quantities. (For more on these stories, please refer to articles entitled: "Why Do You Think They Call it ‘Bail Money'?" and "CC Black Market Thrives.", both found in the November Archive found on this site.