{"id":15754,"date":"2024-08-23T18:38:45","date_gmt":"2024-08-23T18:38:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/coastccu1dev.wpenginepowered.com\/?p=15754"},"modified":"2024-08-23T19:34:25","modified_gmt":"2024-08-23T19:34:25","slug":"security-online","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.coastccu.org\/security-online\/","title":{"rendered":"Certain Risks That Come with Making Purchases Online – Security Online"},"content":{"rendered":"

Shopping online has many benefits: fast shipping, more options and better deals. However, there are certain risks that come with making purchases online that you should be aware of. Thankfully, these risks are well-documented, and merchants and financial institutions are likely to be on the side of the customer if you find you\u2019ve been the victim of fraudulent online activity. Here we will outline some of these risks with recommendations for how to protect yourself online.<\/span><\/p>\n

Identity theft<\/b>
\n<\/span>Identity theft occurs when your personal and\/or financial information is stolen and used for fraudulent activities, such as purchases on your credit card, opening accounts in your name and submitting false insurance claims, to name a few. Oftentimes people do not know their identity has been stolen until they stop receiving bills, see unusual activity in their accounts or notice a severe impact to their credit score.<\/span><\/p>\n

Gift cards<\/b>
\n<\/span>If you think you\u2019re getting a bargain on a gift card through a third-party auction site, think again. Gift card exchanges are particularly susceptible to fraud when they involve cards with a zero balance.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Phishing schemes<\/b>
\n<\/span>Email or text messages that appear to be from a brand you recognize or are a patron of may, in fact, be a scam to obtain your personal information. These messages can look and feel legitimate; however, they usually request an action from you to give your personal information, such as address, government ID number, or account and credit card information.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ransomware<\/b>
\n<\/span>Many phishing scams lead to ransomware, a form of malware in which a scammer uses a fake email to encrypt your files and makes them unavailable to you until you pay a fine. Scammers can also threaten to share personal or sensitive information publicly unless you pay. Once encrypted, your files are locked until the scammer decrypts the files.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tips to protect yourself online<\/b>:<\/span><\/p>\n