6 Rules for Safer Financial Transactions Online Paying Bills Shoppin
6 Rules for Safer Financial Transactions Online: Paying Bills, Shoppin...
Keep passwords and PINs (personal identification numbers) secret. Do not share them in email, instant messages or over the phone.
Use unique passwords for bank accounts and other important financial information. Avoid using the same password everywhere. If someone steals that password, all the information that the password protects is at risk.
The site uses encryption, a security measure that helps protect your data as it traverses the Internet. Signs of encryption include a web address with https ("s" stands for secure) and a closed padlock beside it. (The lock might also be in the lower right corner of the window.) You are at the correct website—for example, at your bank's site, not a fake one. If you are using Internet Explorer, one sign of trustworthiness is a green address bar.
Typically this kind of message, whether sent by computer or phone, is designed to entice you to visit a phony website where criminals collect your financial data. (If you doubt the message's authenticity, call the company.)
Report scams, fraud, identity theft or other abuse:
To the Web service, local police, and the bank, credit card company, or other financial institution. For identity theft in the United States, to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or call toll free 877-438-4338. For scams or fraud in the United States, to the FTC or call toll free 877-382-4357. Cancel You are leaving AARP.org and going to the website of our trusted provider. The provider’s terms, conditions and policies apply. Please return to AARP.org to learn more about other benefits. Your email address is now confirmed. You'll start receiving the latest news, benefits, events, and programs related to AARP's mission to empower people to choose how they live as they age. You can also by updating your account at anytime. You will be asked to register or log in. Cancel Offer Details Disclosures
6 Rules for Safer Financial Transactions Online
Whether you go online to check your bank balance, pay a bill, give money, shop or sell something, these six rules can help you keep the risks to a minimum.1 Defend your computer against Internet threats br
Help protect your online transactions by using firewall, antivirus and antispyware software. Encrypt your wireless connection at home. Keep all software (including your web browser) current with automatic updates.2 Create strong passwords br
Strong passwords are easy for you to remember but difficult for others to guess. They are at least 14 characters long (the longer the password, the better) and include numbers, symbols, and upper and lowercase letters.Keep passwords and PINs (personal identification numbers) secret. Do not share them in email, instant messages or over the phone.
Use unique passwords for bank accounts and other important financial information. Avoid using the same password everywhere. If someone steals that password, all the information that the password protects is at risk.
3 Find the Web address yourself br
Links in email messages, text messages, instant messages or pop-up ads can take you to websites that look legitimate but are not. To visit websites, type the address yourself or use your own bookmark or favorite.4 Look for signs that your information is safe br
Before you enter sensitive data on a web page, ensure that:The site uses encryption, a security measure that helps protect your data as it traverses the Internet. Signs of encryption include a web address with https ("s" stands for secure) and a closed padlock beside it. (The lock might also be in the lower right corner of the window.) You are at the correct website—for example, at your bank's site, not a fake one. If you are using Internet Explorer, one sign of trustworthiness is a green address bar.
5 Save financial transactions for your home computer br
Never pay bills, bank, shop or do other financial business on a public or shared computer or on devices such as laptops or mobile phones that are on public wireless networks. The security is unreliable.6 Use common sense br
To protect yourself against fraud, watch out for scams. For example, be wary of deals that sound too good to be true, alerts from your "bank" that your account will be closed unless you take some immediate action, notices that you have won a lottery or a refusal to meet in person for a local transaction.Typically this kind of message, whether sent by computer or phone, is designed to entice you to visit a phony website where criminals collect your financial data. (If you doubt the message's authenticity, call the company.)
What to do if there are problems br
Online shopping problem? First, ask the seller to make things right. If that doesn't work, contact the Web service for help.Report scams, fraud, identity theft or other abuse:
To the Web service, local police, and the bank, credit card company, or other financial institution. For identity theft in the United States, to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or call toll free 877-438-4338. For scams or fraud in the United States, to the FTC or call toll free 877-382-4357. Cancel You are leaving AARP.org and going to the website of our trusted provider. The provider’s terms, conditions and policies apply. Please return to AARP.org to learn more about other benefits. Your email address is now confirmed. You'll start receiving the latest news, benefits, events, and programs related to AARP's mission to empower people to choose how they live as they age. You can also by updating your account at anytime. You will be asked to register or log in. Cancel Offer Details Disclosures