1. Identity Theft:
Should You
Keep Shopping
Online?

2. …Internet Shopping can be Scary
In a way, every time you go shopping, you’re gaining and losing something. You
gained groceries at the grocery story, but you lost some money through the
purchasing transaction. That’s okay. It’s a fair trade, you think to yourself, while
going through the checkout motions.
Shopping online’s another story. Shopping online removes the bored,
disinterested checkout associate from the equation. Instead, you punch in your
personal information– the numbers that define your identity and recognition on
this overpopulated planet- into a system that you hope is as disinterested in you
as the checkout associate is who works on Main Street.
But you’re just so unbelievable attached to that pair of blue jeans. You have to
have them. You surrender your personal information to the enigma that is the
internet, hoping that you will acquire those jeans and that your social security
number just vanishes from all internet systems.

3. Some Scary Statistics
• Approximately 15 million United States residents
have their identities used fraudulently each year
with financial losses totaling upwards of $50 billion
• On a case-by-case basis, that means approximately
7% of all adults have their identities misused with
each instance resulting in approximately $3,500 in
losses.
• Quite simply, every individual or business is
vulnerable to attack when it comes to personal or
corporate information, products, and services.
• Source: Crime Museum

4. Exhausted by Internet Shopping
• With all of the hubbub over the loss of
personal data via internet shopping, people
feel disgruntled
• Why shop online, when I won’t risk losing any
personal data handing over cash, in person, to
the checkout associate?
• Articles, like this one for Forbes, express the
disheartened sentiment many Americans have
with regards to internet shopping.

5. So… Should I Abandon Online
Shopping Altogether??

6. NO!
Here are some reasons why the risk of
losing personal data should NOT
keep you away from executing your
online purchases

7. Deals, Deals, Deals!
Internet Shopping is capable of offering you the
best of the best deals on practically everything!
Lots of online retailers have low
overheard, which means that they are capable
of keeping their prices at friendly, low rates. You
can save a bunch of money just by shopping
online. Of course, you need to shop with a grain
of intelligence. This article in Readers Digest
offers some tips to keep in mind when shopping
online.

8. Online Reviews Rock!
When you’re reading an online review, you know it’s coming from
an unbiased source. Purchasing products, retail items, etc.
online is, in a way, a rather honest process. You feel like you are
receiving recommendations from people like you, who want
you to get the best out of your purchase. Unlike at malls,
where you’re forced to trust your gut instinct when executing
most of your purchasing decisions, shopping online entails a
supportive consumer community that sincerely wants you to
know that those shoes do, in fact, run a little small.
Some Stats:
• Consumer reviews are significantly more trusted – nearly 12
times more – than descriptions that come from
manufacturers.
• 47% of consumers rely on online reviews about a product on a
company’s website over newspapers, magazines or social
networking sites before making a purchase decision
• Source: AddShoppers

9. Tips for Shopping Safely Online
•
•
•
•
So, you should still shop online, just shop safely! Follow these tips
and, for more information, About.com offers more detailed and
thorough advice.
Choose credit over debit
Verify website security- If you’re going to shop online, limit
yourself to secure sites. You can tell if a site is secure by the URL. A
secure web site starts with HTTPS:// instead of HTTP://.
Don’t store information elsewhereDisposable is better- Don’t use your go-to credit card. Instead, use
a disposable one. Disposable credit cards work just like gift cards–
using them instead of your primary credit card means that you
probably won’t risk losing all of your personal information.

10. CONCLUSION: Shop Happy &
Safely
Shopping should be effortless fun! As long as
you keep your eyes peeled for anything
spammy, or too revealing, your online
shopping experience shouldn’t be so risky. You
can finally enjoy that pair of blue jeans
without feeling as though you’ve sacrificed
some top-secret, super important, personal
information. Own your online purchases and
own yourself!