Credit card frauds are probably among the most favorable schemes among online-thieves and other abusers. The simple fact that users are just not security-savvy enough, even if only because of lack of awareness – makes it that much easier for them, than any other scam option. It’s just too easy!
The Internet Crime Complaint Center report published this year shows a high rate of online credit card scams. The numbers scale up to $2,000,000 in total per state., with credit card frauds being the hardest to track and catch in real time. Most thefts are of small amounts, thus hardly noticeable.
Digital thieves are constantly getting more sophisticated, finding new ways to abuse innocent internet users that simply lack the knowledge of the dangers and available solutions to them.
The Federal Trade Commission released some simple “How To” guides aimed to provide basic means of protection online. But, it is too little, too late.
Most online shops have a strong security system that protects the user’s activity and information. That’s why hackers would rather aim their efforts at the home-user than bother with the commercially protected website. A simple mistake as using an unprotected public Wi-Fi, posting too much information on social websites or purchasing an item via an unsafe websites can cause enormous problems. The only way to figure out that something went wrong is to monitor your credit card and bank statements regularly. But that too – is too little, too late.
The simplest way to protect yourself is to use a prepaid credit card which almost every credit company offers. This way even if the card is compromised the main account won’t be and your maximum risk is the funds that are on the card at that point. The downside is that it needs to be funded repeatedly. Credit card companies also offer additional security such as double verification text messages, digital tokens and random PIN codes.
In order to protect their users, most browsers added the option of not saving usernames, passwords, and PINs within their interface. However, even when not saved these details leave traces which skilled hackers can get to, and form a complete profile for them to abuse.
The problem lays in that digital footprint, which every user leaves online. One of the only ways to truly get rid of these footprints is with 3rd party security software, proven to handle this type of concern.
On this year’s Affiliate Summit East in New York we brought to light new products and features that address the online privacy concerns even in more depth than before. ShieldApps’ team has present the new version of PC Privacy Shield, created especially for digital footprint removal tasks. The simplified interface allows none savvy users to utilize professional grade software capabilities with just a few clicks.
The software presents potentially at-risk personal information that’s on one’s computer in a simple, easy to understand report, and then prompts for which content to wipe clean, or leave untouched. Also – a simple automation on/off switch will allow those settings to repeatedly take effect daily if needed.
Visually the product is a good mix of modern design, simplicity of usage, and straight forward controls. There are advanced options which can come in handy, but the minimalism of controls allows even the none-savvy users to be protected within minutes.
Credit card frauds and scams are still happening every day. It is our duty as consumers to protect ourselves the best we can.