Identity theft has been called "The Designer Crime of The
New Century" and it is living up to its name and
reputation, where someone takes someone else's identity and
use it to commit crimes or other acts of fraud. It seems
that only one side of this issue has been focused on, the
consumer side. It is time for Internet business owners and
Marketers to really take a stand and get involved in
combating Identity theft before it goes too far. 

You might be wondering "why should I care?" or thinking ID
theft doesn't affect you. But, if you're an Internet vendor
or consumer it should. If gone unchecked, everything from
bogus purchases to charge-backs and other penalties and
costs will eventually affect your reputation, profits and
even the way you do business as new online and offline laws
are passed to fight this crime. 

Many identity theft transactions are done with stolen
credit cards or compromised PayPal, StormPay or other
payment provider accounts. Usually the vendor doesn't find
out until it's too late that their last $200 received order
was placed with stolen account information. To make it
worse, the victim usually blames the vendor for taking the
order. Several angry phone calls and emails later and you
(the vendor)still ends up paying some or all of the
associated costs created by this act of fraud. 

Be sure to pass these tips on to your customers and
readers. 

Here are some common-sense Internet based tips to follow at
home and when traveling. 

1. Be careful of who you give information to when you're
online. For example, don't respond to financial related
offers received via unsolicited email. Don't trust Spam
related messages asking you to place orders by credit card
or by payment resources such as PayPal. The spammer might
be an identity thief waiting for you to divulge your
details at their bogus web site. 

2. If you get a request from a known web site asking for
financial information, don't click the link within the
email. Instead type the url (www.whatever.com) yourself and
go directly to the web site. If you don't feel comfortable
doing this, then call your bank or financial institution
directly and ask them to verify the email. 

3. Don't respond to any email claiming that the writer
wants to send you millions of dollars as a helper's fee, if
you will help them take care of some form of inheritance.
These messages are often referred to as a form of the
Nigerian Oil scam. Don't think that this only comes from
Nigeria. Just substitute your country's name before the
word oil and you get the picture... 

4. Don't click on any links in email supposedly sent from
PayPal or eBay asking you to verify your account info (if
you have one of these accounts). These messages are often
filled with misspellings and poor grammar (an obvious, but
often ignored, indicator that it was not eBay or PayPal
that sent the message). 

5. Don't click on unsubscribe email links sent in
un-requested (unsolicited) spam email. The fact that you
were sent the message without your asking for it, is a
great indicator that the sender might not be trustworthy. 

6. Beware when downloading file-sharing software (often
used to trade music and movie files). They are notorious
for delivering viruses, SpyWare and keyboard loggers as
well. 

7. Update your Anti-Virus, Firewall and Privacy software
frequently to make sure you have the latest versions. See
the free guide mentioned at the end of this list for more
info 

8. Be careful when giving out your email address or before
downloading any free software. Be sure to read the web
sites privacy policy. 

9. Review your email carefully, many viruses and Trojans
are sent by crooks and hackers who use fake email
addresses, or legitimate email addresses of reputable
companies. So it can look like it came from a known
company, when actually it didn't 

10. Be careful when using computers in Libraries, Airports,
on Airplanes and other Public places. It is not safe to use
computers in these places for financial or other high-risk 
transactions. You never know what these machines are
storing, in their logs, as you type and you never know
who's looking over your shoulder. 

11. Be sure to download the latest Internet browser and
customize your Browser's security settings to protect you
while you surf. Just visit your browser manufacturer's web
site and look for information on setting your browser
preferences or options. For example: Microsoft Internet
Explorer users can find this info at
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/ 

12. Avoid leaving your laptop unattended, especially in
hotel rooms, convention room floors, restrooms,
restaurants, etc. Try installing passwords on important
files and folders, just in case your laptop or stolen. 

13. Finally, if a situation smells fishy, it might just be. 

Download this fr.e.e guide to protecting yourself from
Identity theft Online and Offline. "Stop Identity Theft" at
http://www.ClientByDesign.com/danger and be sure to tell
others about it. The guide covers different methods of
identity theft, how it's done and how to prevent it both
online and offline.