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I have a friend who recently purchased a home. Shortly after that time, he discovered charges being added to his credit cards. He isn't a big online shopper, so we ruled out the possibility of his being careless with his information online somewhere.

To make a long story short, after a police and credit card fraud department investigation, he found out that his identity had been stolen somewhere in the process of buying his property. He wasn't anywhere near the internet when his identity was stolen. But still it happened.

There are many people who are terrified of the very thought of shopping online, but online shopping offers many benefits that you won't find when shopping in a brick and mortar store or by mail. For those hardcore shoppers, you can shop at three in the morning, because the internet is always open, seven days a week, 24 hours a day, and bargains are immeasurable online.

If you're one of those people who quivers at the thought of shopping online, here are a few tips to ensure your online shopping safety;

' Use a secure browser. This is the software that you use to get around the Internet. Your browser should comply with industry security standards, such as Secure Sockets Layer (SSL). These standards scramble the purchase information you send over the Internet, helping to secure your transaction. Most computers come with a browser already installed. You also can download other browsers for free over the Internet.

' Shop with companies that you are familiar with. Anyone can set up shop online under any name. If you're not familiar with a merchant, ask for a paper catalog or brochure to get a better idea of their merchandise and services. Also, determine the company's refund and return policies before you place your order. These should be posted on the company's Web site.

' Keep your password(s) private. Be thoughtful when you establish a password, and don't give it to anyone. Avoid using a telephone number, birth date or a portion of your Social Security number. Instead, use a combination of numbers, letters and symbols.

' Pay by credit or charge card. If you pay by credit or charge card online, your transaction will be protected by the Fair Credit Billing Act. Under this law, you have the right to dispute charges under certain circumstances and temporarily withhold payment while the creditor is investigating them. In the event of unauthorized use of your credit or charge card, you generally would be held liable only for the first $50 of charges. Some companies offer an online shopping guarantee that ensures you will not be held responsible for any unauthorized charges made online, and some cards may provide additional warranty, return and/or purchase protection benefits.

' Keep a record of your transactions. Print a copy of your purchase order and confirmation number for your own records. Also, the Mail and Telephone Order Merchandise Rule covers online orders. This means that unless the company states otherwise, your merchandise must be delivered within 30 days; and if there are delays, the company must notify you.

' Before paying your bills online, evaluate how the company secures your financial and personal information. Most companies explain their security procedures on their Web site. If you don't see a security description, call or email the company and ask them.

Companies now have the ability to collect information about you and potentially give or sell that information to others. While the Internet can serve as a tremendous resource for information, products, and services, you should be sure to safeguard your privacy online by following these tips.

' Keep personal information private. Don't disclose personal information ' such as your address, telephone number, Social Security number, or email address ' unless you know who is collecting the information, why they are collecting it, and how they will use it. If you have children, teach them to check with you before giving out personal ' or family ' information online.

' Look for a privacy policy on the site. Most companies post their privacy policies on their Web site. This policy should tell you what information is being collected on the Web site and how that information will be used. Before you provide a company with personal information, check its privacy policy. If you can't find a policy, send an email or written message to the Web site to ask about its policy and request that it be posted on the site.

' Make decisions. Many companies give you a choice on their web site as to how and whether your personal information is used. These companies allow you to decline ' or 'opt-out' of having personal information, such as your email address, used for marketing purposes or shared with other companies. Look for this choice as part of the company's privacy policy.

A. Warner.

Copyright 2006 Alexandra Warner All Rights Reserved