Shopping and Banking

1. Whether you’re buying textbooks or a ticket home for the holidays, limit online shopping to merchants you know and trust. For those you don’t, conduct online research to see how other consumers have rated them.

2. Pay for online purchases with a credit card or an online payment service. These methods of payment limit your liability if something goes wrong.

3. Keep a paper trail of purchases and check your credit card and bank statements regularly to be sure that you’re the only one spending your money.

4. “Https” or “shttp” at the beginning of a Web address (URL) are each an indication that a Web site has taken extra security steps to protect your information. Look for either one when conducting online transactions.

5. Don’t provide financial information, including credit card and bank account, or Social Security numbers through email. Only send information over Web sites that are “https” or “shttp.”

6. Before you share personal information, ask yourself WWW:

• Who’s going to see it?

• What’s the value of it?

• Why do they need to see it?