Identity theft is one of the most common crimes on the Internet. It is important that you know what to look for while you are using the web. Spammers can use your email address to find out information on you. Phishing schemes can steal passwords and other information. It may seem like the virtual world is too dangerous to be on.

The Internet is a virtual space much like the one we live in. You wouldn't give your social security number to just anyone online and you wouldn't leave your doors and windows unlocked in the real world. Self-protection is a very real need in both worlds.

The first step to protecting yourself online is to realize how the virtual world works. There are safe places to disclose financial information online. To see if you are safe when making a purchase, always look for these indications that you are being protected:

? At the bottom of your Internet Explorer window, you should see a gold lock icon. This lets you know you are in a secured area.

? Large retailers, like Amazon, eBay, and Paypal have their own protection for customers. Transaction that are processed via a SSL or secured socket layer are encrypted for your protection.

? Always look at the address bar on your internet browsing software. The address should state "https" instead of the standard "http."

There are common sense tips you can take to protect yourself as well. General emails are not secure. They can be accessed by others. Nver use a free email service to tell anyone your personal information such as bank account details, passwords or any other sensitive information. Be sure everyone in your house understands how important it is to maintain privacy for the entire house.

Phishing is a rampant problem for many people. A phishing scheme most often arrives in your email. It will look like a legitimate web site has written you with urgent information on your account. Phishing schemes are supposed to look convincing. A high number of stores and banks have successfully implemented the "ask first" protocol. This mean you should always verify an email that you receive from them first.

Do not respond or click on any links in the email at all. Open your internet browser and go to the site. Log in normally. If there are any alerts the bank should have a notification on your account. If there's still isn't any indication of why they contacted you, email them, through the web site. Do not interact with the email at all.

In many cases the only way a spammer will know if your address is valid will be if you open the email. The virtual world can be a wonderful place. It is full of fascinating information and research that is open for all. It should be approached with care and caution to avoid scams and identity theft.