It is unfortunate, but scammers are getting more creative when finding ways to take advantage of innocent people. There are steps we can all take to protect ourselves, but the best rule of thumb is if something doesn’t feel right, your gut is probably right.
Here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Be very cautious with the information you share on line. The more personal data someone has on you, the easier it is for them to build a profile and develop a scam that fits your needs and wants.
• It is not recommended to send your credit card information via e-mail. E-mail sites are unsecure and can possibly be viewed by someone to obtain information. You can identify a secure site by the beginning of the URL which will start with https:// vs. an unsecure site that is listed as http:// (the “s” is missing).
• When checking out at the cash register at a store, be aware of the individuals around you. A common scheme is for individuals to stand behind someone with a camera phone and take a picture of the credit card while making a transaction.
• Domain renewal notifications are an upcoming scam. Your domain expiration date is available to others. Therefore, scammers are using the opportunity to obtain your credit card number. They will send you an e-mail notification shortly before your domain is scheduled to expire asking you to renew it via a link in the e-mail. However, when you enter your credit card number, you are not dealing with the company you originally registered your domain. You are providing a scammer with all of your credit card and personal information. To play it safe, you should delete out the e-mail and go directly to the registration company’s website to renew with your personal information.
• If you sell a product, one avenue to promote your item is to send it to reporters and blogs to have them do a review. However, there are many out there posing as a reporter and requesting samples, only to have them keep them for their own personal needs. Check out their credentials before sending anything. Ask what outlet they write for and verify it.
• When creating a password, make sure it is a strong password, meaning it consists of numbers, and upper and lower case letters.

It is not feasible for us to stay 100% protected from scam artists, but we can be smart about how we conduct ourselves to try and stay one step ahead. By following these tips, you can at least be aware of possible scams and think twice before entering information on the internet or conducting business at local stores.

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