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March 12, 2008

Silver surfers are the safest online shoppers

Older generations more savvy when buying online

Carrie-Ann Skinner

Older surfers are better at protecting themselves when purchasing online than younger generations, according to the findings of a survey by credit-protection firm, CPP.

Of those surveyed, 80 percent of 45- to 54-year-olds won't purchase online if there is no indication the website is secure, compared to just 42 percent of younger generations. The survey also highlighted that one in every 10 Brits has become a victim of online fraud in the UK and, with 37 percent unsure how the fraud happened in the first place, there's clearly a need for consumers to be a lot more vigilant.

Auction site eBay and online-payment service PayPal were among the most popular websites for fraudulent transactions.

Danny Harrison, an identity theft expert at CPP says: "Using your card online can quite easily be a way for you to become a victim of card fraud. It's surprising that young people are the ones who take most risks online."

Harrison also urges young people to check that the web pages they use are secure.

"It's really easy to do. Just look for the padlock in the righthand corner or your web page - this means it's a secure web page. Also look out for the HTTPS at the beginning of the web address, as this also means your card details will be protected."

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Comments received


Barry said on Wednesday, 12 March 2008

I would have thought PayPal was a safer way to pay online. You don't need to give anybody else your credit card number apart from PayPal, so I do not understand how it could be one of the most popular websites for fraudulent transactions. Perhaps you could explain the reason rather than the scaremongering accusation

RobinP said on Wednesday, 12 March 2008

Half of on-line fraud could be prevented if only people did not save their credit card details on their PC's to save having to re-enter them again. This is sheer stupidity and laziness, it's just making a gift to some lurking trojan or hacker.
Do NOT save details when given the option.
Don't use the family pet's name or your favourite football club.
Regularly sweep for spy ware, the software available is pretty much idiot proof and FREE for god's sake!
Is a little thought and 5 minutes effort to much to ask when the security of your finances, be it family or business, is at stake?
......I feel much better now ;-)

Josephine Parslow said on Saturday, 15 March 2008

I was a victim of identity theft after my grandaughter closed down my antivirus and firewall so that she could get onto a chat site. I do online banking, and they stole £450 in four different transactions on the same day,when the tech guys at the bank made me do an online antivirus scan I hade 132 viruses, in the end the only way I got rid of them was to buy Kapersky Internet security package, then when they were sure the tech guys at the bank gave the OK for me to bank on line again, and I had to change all my passwords etc.

Anon said on Monday, 17 March 2008

closing down a firewall is very unlikely to have caused the loss of banking details. these are not stored on the local machine in plain text.

and the antivirus has absolutely nothing to do with it.

elinororr@comcast.net said on Friday, 11 April 2008

this is very good information, presented clearly and briefly. very good. people want help that doesn't require alot of time to read and/or search for. thanks.

Kerry Hennigan said on Friday, 11 April 2008

I have a PayPal account but have also received emails supposedly from PayPal and requesting I enter my details to verify my account. I don't respond to any emails like this, either from banks or any other on-line source with which I have an account. Invariably it's a scam. Banks will ALWAYS phone you, and with PalPal, open a new screen and log into your account to check if there is anything amiss with your details. Never log in using a link provided in this type of email.

Jody Bower said on Friday, 11 April 2008

I was going to send this article to my father, assuming he is a "silver surfer" - he is 84 - but was shocked to find out that at 56, I too am older than what the author considers "silver"! I do have SOME grey hairs . . .

Willis Russell said on Friday, 11 April 2008

AT&T Universal card and Bank of America's Platinum Plus card each cand create a virtual, unique temporary card number for the exact transaction amount and an early expiration date. The transacton apears on the actual card's statement. AT&T fills the credit card form for the buyer.

Gilles said on Friday, 11 April 2008

!I was surprized to read that PayPal was among the the most popular for fraudulent transactions.
The only possible thing that I could see going wrong would be for a person to reply to FAKE paypal e-mails.
Always open a fresh web page and then access paypal to go to your account.
NEVER follow a link in an e-mail.
Hope this helps some of you.

Susan California said on Friday, 11 April 2008

I NEVER login to Paypal from emails etc. Only when I choose to log-in there myself or transfer to there from eBay do I feel safe about it.

Susan California said on Friday, 11 April 2008

I think Paypal is secure if you log-in yourself and do not open emails about them. Am I correct?

KJ said on Friday, 11 April 2008

Proving once again that with age and life experience, one has more to draw on. Silver's good.

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