Identity theft is one of the most common crimes on the internet. It is important that you know that spammers can use your email address to find out information about you. Phishing schemes can steal passwords and other information and make you more important to criminals being able to steal your identity.

Even though the internet is virtual, you shouldn’t give your social security number to anyone just as you wouldn’t leave your doors and windows unlocked in the real world. Self-protection from identity theft is needed in both the internet world just as much as the physical world.

The first step to protecting yourself online from identity theft 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:

When shopping online, look at the bottom of your browser window for an icon that lets you know you are on a secure website.

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

Look in the address bar in your internet browsing software. The address should state “https” instead of the standard “http.”

Emails are not secure. They can be accessed by others. Don’t 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 to protect your identity.

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 with an urgent message about your account. Phishing schemes look quite authentic. 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. Its a good idea to NOT click through from the link in the email to what you think is the login for your account. Instead, open your browser for your account without ever clicking the link in the email.

In many cases the only way a spammer will know if your address is valid will be if you open the email they send you and especially if you respond to it. For best protection against identity theft, approach all emails with caution and common sense.