by Nancy Adossi

Created on: November 30, 2009

So you are online and you see a fabulous pair of Louboutins selling for a cheap price, and you just have to buy, so you take out your credit card. Or maybe it's the pair of new Jordans. Or even better, the book for that very important history class.

There is always the danger of having your identity stolen whatever the reason for buying items online. And who better to steal an identity from than an ignorant college student or a young teenager? Identity thieves love this population not necessarily because they are easy, but because they are just starting to build their credit history. This means it is easier to obtain new credit with teenagers and young adults who essentially have a blank page of credit history.

Here is one of the recommended steps (reformatted for the purposes of this article) that the Federal Government advises in order to avoid identity theft:

Be stingy with your money and credit card information every time.
First, be stingy with your money. Yes the Louboutin will make you the most glamorous lady in town, but it will go out of style in about a month. Yes the Jordans will make you look cool, but so will paying your car payment. As for the books, they are cheaper on the internet, but make sure you've exhausted the other cheaper option: asking classmates and friends if they have a copy.

Second, be stingy with your credit card information by not giving it. Yep, don't give your credit card information online. Buy a reloadable VISA card and put money on it. It is safer than a credit card and the limit forces you to hold back on some purchases. Why shouldn't you use your credit card online? Because even with spyware, phishing ware, and all the other wares, there is always the possibility that something could happen or leak through. Especially for those who go online at public places (which is very popular now with the advent of coffeehouses that offer free wifi), there is a possibility that someone will look at your information and copy it down without you ever noticing.

Third, make sure your computer is safe. In terms of computer safety, spend as much money as you can to buy the best software to protect your computer. Also remember to have extremely hard passwords to access any of your personal information online.

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